JV Casio of Alaska (light) vs Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Alaska hoots for a second straight win Friday even as rock-solid sides San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine clash for their first PBA Governors’ Cup victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After a rousing victory over the Beermen in the inaugurals last Sunday, the Aces are installed as the solid favorites against the Globalport Batang Pier in their 5:45 p.m. game, with a win giving Alaska the early lead in this “sprint” tournament.
That’s why the second game at 8 p.m. also carries a lot of importance for both the Elasto Painters and the Beermen, as going 0-2 in a nine-game schedule could certainly affect their respective chances in the playoffs.
Tournament format calls for each team to play just nine elimination-round games in just over three weeks, with the top four earning twice-to-beat privileges over the next four and the bottom two teams getting the boot.
There will be no playoffs for rankings, with ties to be broken via the PBA quotient.
The Aces showed good form in dismantling the Beermen a few days ago, while the Batang Pier absorbed an 18-point loss from the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in their debut Tuesday.
Globalport has won just one game in its first 10 matches with new coach Pido Jarencio and was one of two teams that got eliminated in the Commissioner’s Cup won by San Mig Coffee.
The Batang Pier would need to get some of their locals in on the scoring if they hope to survive Alaska. Against Ginebra, import Leroy Hickerson scored 30 points and all-star point guard Alex Cabagnot 21, but the next best scorer was Jay Washington with six.
Playing like that again will certainly not enable the Batang Pier to survive another formidable side in Alaska, which has a steady import in Henry Walker and a local lineup that is one of the best in the league.
Sonny Thoss will man the middle for the Aces, and the 6-foot-7 center will be coming off an impressive first game.
Meanwhile, the Painters are expected to welcome back head coach Yeng Guiao and play like the Rain or Shine squad of old as they resume their quest to make the Finals here for the third straight year.
Rain or Shine lost to Air21 in its debut, also last Tuesday, and looked very much out of sync with Guiao attending to a personal matter in Chinese Taipei.