Games on Friday (Cuneta Astrodome)
2:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs Smart-Gilas
5:00 p.m. — Purefoods vs Barako Bull
7:30 p.m. — Coca-Cola vs Alaska

It’s now the turn of Barangay Ginebra to test the mettle of the Smart-Gilas Team Pilipinas in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup, and for head coach Jong Uichico, it won’t be easy.

“They’re tough especially with an import,” Uichico said, referring to American CJ Giles, on the eve of their meeting with the Nationals this Friday.

The Gin Kings, eyeing a third straight win, and the Nationals, winless after two appearances, clash at 2:30 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Also hoping to remain perfect is Alaska (2-0), which battles Coca-Cola (0-2) at 7:30 p.m., right after the 5 p.m. encounter between Purefoods and Barako Bull, both toting 1-1 record.

So far, Ginebra, which welcomed the return of Mark Caguioa and the addition of three new players, has won against two of the season’s top contenders -- San Miguel Beer, 98-86 last October 14, and Purefoods, 95-87, last Sunday.

The Nationals, on the other hand, lost to Burger King, 115-105, and to Talk ’N Text, 103-70.

But even with the two setbacks, Uichico, a former national team mentor, knows the capabilities of Gilas.

“They shoot so well and are fluid on offense,” said Uichico, who will rely anew on the 5-foot-11 Caguioa, who averaged 12.5 points so far in the first two games after missing the previous season due to tendonitis; reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand and Ronald Tubid.

Uichico expressed concern on the 6-foot-10 Giles, who forms a formidable “Twin Tower” with 6-foot-10 Japeth Aguilar.

Giles, however, was a non-factor in the Nationals’ game versus TNT where he played for only five minutes in the first quarter and never returned with Gilas’ Serbian coach Rajko Toroman refusing to discuss his performance, adding that Giles has “private problems.”