Defensive test

Franz Pumaren has the two most explosive guards in the PBA and knows that for his GlobalPort crew to be a force in the Philippine Cup, playing defense would be the key.

And he is only too willing to take on the tournament’s powerhouses to be able to gauge how good his team has become.

“We’re trying to put more emphasis on team defense,” Pumaren said after going 2-0 last week with an impressive win over Star. “It’s still an early gauge for us. The real test will be in the coming games.”

One of those games happens today at 4:15 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay where Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and the rest of the Batang Pier put the only remaining unbeaten record on the line against an Alaska side that wants to get going so badly after two straight defeats.

Romeo and Pringle have been unstoppable in their first two games and will obviously again be the main guns that Pumaren would use to shoot down the Aces.

Alaska will be close to full force when it comes into this game, with Vic Manuel and Ping Exciminiano returning after team-imposed suspensions and Calvin Abueva to play for the first time this season after missing the Aces’ first two games because of a muscle bruise.

The Aces also take pride in their defense, and Alaska could also use this game to measure its trump card when it tries to defend Romeo and Pringle, who combined for 87 points in the first two GlobalPort games.

“They are special players and deserve special defense,” Alaska assistant Louie Alas told the Inquirer over the phone yesterday, not hiding the fact that they are preparing hard to hopefully limit the production of Romeo and Pringle.

“And they (Romeo and Pringle) know that,” Alas added. “They know that they are the focal points of their team.”

Meanwhile, that Star team which GlobalPort manhandled also shoots for its first win, clashing with NLEX in the 7 p.m. contest.