INQUIRER Sports

TALK ?N TEXT AND PUREFOODS, BOTH LISTED as favorites in pre-tournament rankings, battle separate struggling sides Wednesday in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The defending champion Tropang Texters slug it out with Rain or Shine in the 5 p.m. contest before the Tender Juicy Giants take the floor at 7:30 opposite Coca-Cola as both fancied sides try to make up ground on the leaders.

Talk ?N Text, at 6-3, is more than two games behind leader Alaska Aces and two adrift of second running San Miguel, which at 8-2 is riding the crest of a league-best eight-game winning streak.

And the Texters are heavily favored to prevail over the Elasto Painters, who at 2-7, are just one win clear of the bottom spot being occupied by the Tigers.

Chot Reyes? wards will be seeking a repeat of an easy 85-76 conquest of the Painters in the first round, which was one of six straight losses Rain or Shine has suffered.

Mac Cardona, who shot 40 in a 13-point TNT win over Burger King on Friday, will again be the focal point of the Talk ?N Text offense.

The Painters will come into the game fresh off their second win?a 92-84 tripping of Coca-Cola.

Meanwhile, the Tigers will have a new head coach in Bo Perasol, who replaced Kenneth Duremdes after the former league MVP was elevated to alternate representative of the board.

Meanwhile, Purefoods and Hormel Foods International Corp. will mark their 10th year of partnership with activities lined up during the game between the TJ Giants and the Tigers.