KFC-PBA Philippine Cup
Alaska (9-1)
San Miguel (8-2)
Talk ’N Text (6-3)
Ginebra (6-3)
Purefoods (5-4)
Sta. Lucia (5-4)
Burger King (3-7)
Rain or Shine (2-7)
Barako Bull (2-8)
Coca-Cola (1-8)

Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5:00 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Talk ’N Text
7:30 p.m. — Coca-Cola vs Purefoods

As the race heats up for the two outright Final Four berths, two teams with legitimate shots at them – defending champion Talk ’N Text and Purefoods – try to improve on their chances when they take on separate foes in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters clash with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5 p.m. while the Giants face the Coca-Cola Tigers at 7:30.

Alaska topped the first phase of classification and has now improved to 9-1 after an 88-81 win over Barako Bull last Sunday.

Currently holding second spot is San Miguel Beer with an 8-2 card followed by TNT and Ginebra with similar 6-3 cards while Purefoods and Sta. Lucia Realty share fifth with identical 5-4 records.

At the bottom half are Rain or Shine (2-7), just half a game behind Burger King (3-7), Barako Bull (2-8) and Coke (1-8).

In their first round meeting last Oct. 16, Talk ’N Text downed Rain or Shine, 85-76, in a game where the Texters used a big third quarter run to turn a one-point halftime advantage (32-31), to a 64-49 lead.

But TNT coach Chot Reyes expects the game to be a lot tougher this time.

“From hereon, every game is a big game as teams are jockeying for position. That’s how we are approaching the game against Rain or Shine,” Reyes said.