Texters battle Batang Pier

Defending champion Purefoods, its foremost star getting his rhythm back, shoots for a second straight win against winless Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is 4:15 p.m. with everything stacked in favor of the Star Hotshots who now enjoy the services of gunner James Yap. The former two-time MVP and crowd-drawer seemed to have finally hit his stride two games into his comeback from a hamstring injury, scoring 19 points against NLEX in a 92-76 win.

Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text shoots for a share of third place later in the night when it clashes with Globalport at 7 p.m.

Purefoods owns a 2-4 card, which is better than its 1-5 start last season before the team picked up momentum later in the tournament to win the title as the San Mig Coffee Makers.

And Yap, who sat out three of Purefoods’ first four outings, will undoubtedly help spell victory or defeat in the end for the Star Hotshots, who have won the last four conferences.

Blackwater is mired at 0-6 but has come close to winning a couple of times.

Talk ‘N Text and the Batang Pier will be coming off contrasting fortunes, with the Texters seeking a followup to their 80-72 decision of Meralco last Nov. 11 and Globalport trying to forget the pain of an 83-86 defeat to Rain or Shine.

The Batang Pier have won two of their last three games and coach Pido Jarencio came close to gifting the franchise with its first-ever three-game winning streak until Rain or Shine pulled out defensive gems in the stretch.

Alex Cabagnot and Stanley Pringle will continue to lead Globalport, which has opted to give guard Terrence Romeo scant minutes in its past games to promote ball movement.

Romeo exploded for 33 points in the Batang Pier’s first game but has the tendency to hang on to the ball a lot longer.