INQUIRER Sports

 W L
 Alaska 6 1
 San Miguel 6 2
 Ginebra 5 2
 Talk 'N Text 4 2
 Purefoods 4 3
 Sta. Lucia 4 3
 Barako Bull 2 5
 Burger King 2 5
 Coca-Cola 1 5
 Rain or Shine 1 7

GAMES FRIDAY (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m.?Barako Bull vs Burger King
7:30 p.m.?Talk ?N Text vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - Still smarting from a first loss very few expected, Alaska tries to get back on track against Talk ?N Text in the KFC Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces swing into action at 7:30 p.m. hoping to keep the solo lead at 7-1 even as Burger King tries to win back-to-back games for the first time this season against Barako Bull at 5 p.m.

Alaska will come into the game still licking the wounds of a surprise loss last week to Rain or Shine, which claimed the Aces as its first victim.

The Aces need to be a lot better in their clash with the defending champion Tropang Texters, who will be gunning for a third straight win and creep closer toward a top two slot.

The last time Alaska and Talk ?N Text saw action was on Friday the 13th, with the Aces succumbing and the Texters barely dodging the upset axe against another lightweight?Barako Bull.

Meanwhile, the Whoppers, after snapping a three-game losing streak with a come-from-behind victory over Coca-Cola just two nights ago, are slightly favored to deal the Energy Boosters a fourth straight loss.

Coach Yeng Guiao had described that win as a tiny step out of the cellar, adding that the Whoppers are just taking things one game at a time to see how far they can go.

The Boosters, on the other hand, will be coming off two close setbacks, the more painful one being that game against the Texters where they blew several commanding leads.