Alex Crisano of Barako Bull (left) soars high to block Carlo Sharma of Burger King (right) during their KFC-PBA Philippine Cup duel Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum. The Whoppers won, 102-86. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

Games this Sunday (Araneta Coliseum)
4:00 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs Barako Bull
6:30 p.m. — Alaska vs Purefoods

Because of the build-up Purefoods did in the off-season, Alaska coach Tim Cone knows that a game against the Giants won’t be easy.

“No doubt about it, they’re one of the strong teams this all-Filipino conference,” said Cone as Alaska tests the mettle of Purefoods this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces are coming off a thrilling 110-106 win over the defending champions Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters late Friday to solidify their grip of the solo lead with a 7-1 win-loss card.

TNT dropped into fourth spot tied with Purefoods and Sta. Lucia Realty - all with 4-3 cards.

The Aces, however, are up against the Giants who are also fresh from an impressive 103-69 triumph opposite Rain or Shine a week ago, and eager to claim their first back-to-back wins.

“We are set in nailing our first back-to-back wins this conference. Time and again, we have proven that we could bounce back from a loss, but, we struggle after a won game,” Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said.

“Against Alaska, we are determined to compete and have a chance to win in the end,” he added.

To beat the Aces, Gregorio said that they should be consistent on both ends.

“Consistency is what we’ve been working on. Every game counts and every victory could bring us closer to our goal of making it to the top four,” Gregorio, who will likewise rely on his 1-2 punch of James Yap and Kerby Raymundo.

Expected to give Yap and Raymundo support are the players Purefoods got in the off-season - Rafi Reavis, Paul Artadi and Marc Jean Pingris – as well as Rico Maierhofer, the second overall pick in the previous PBA Rookie Draft.

As for the Aces, leading them is former two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Willie Miller, playmaker LA Tenorio, Sonny Thoss, Joe De Vance, Tony Dela Cruz, and Reynel Hugnatan.

Clashing in the 4 p.m. encounter are Sta. Lucia and Barako Bull (2-6), which dropped its fourth straight game following an 86-102 loss to Burger King last Friday.

——————

San Miguel Beer outgunned Coca-Cola, 107-84, last night in the PBA on Tour presented by Phoenix Fuel at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City.

It was the seventh straight win for the Beermen, who lost their first two assignments, and this will stand as the season’s new longest winning run.

The loss was the sixth in seven games for the Tigers.