Cyrus Baguio of Barangay Ginebra (right) looks for a teammate against the defense Talk 'n Text's Aaron Aban (right) during their game Sunday of the PBA Fiesta Conference. The Gin Kings won, 95-90. (Photo by TONY PIONILLA)

Games Friday (Astrodome, Pasay City)
5 p.m. — Talk ’N Text vs Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs Ginebra

With a healthy roster, Barangay Ginebra is always tough to beat.

That’s what Sta. Lucia Realty mentor Boyet Fernandez thinks as the Realtors test the mettle of the injury-free Kings, who are eyeing back-to-back wins and the early lead in the PBA Fiesta Cup this Friday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

“Ginebra is a tough team, they have a healthy lineup,” Fernandez said. “We really have to play our very best is we want to win.”

Game time is set at 7:30 p.m., while Rain or Shine makes its conference debut against Talk ’N Text at 5 p.m.

The Kings opened their campaign in this reinforced tournament with a 97-90 win over Philippine Cup nemesis Tropang Texters last Sunday – thanks largely to import Awvee Storey who fired 33 points with 16 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a shot block.

With the recovery of their key players from various injuries, including reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa, Ginebra is hoping to improve on their semifinal finish last conference.

Aside from Helterbrand, the Kings also activated veteran guard Junthy Valenzuela, who missed two conferences due to a knee injury. JC Intal (leg), Eric Menk (foot), and Celino Cruz (ankle) have also recovered from injuries.

Caguioa, back to his fiery form after recuperating from a knee injury, also played a key role in the team’s opening game victory with 19 points.

Helterbrand, who was sidelined last conference due also to a knee problem, added 11 points and seven assists in 30 minutes of play.

The Realtors are hoping to rebound from a 93-97 loss to the Barako Bull Coffee Makers last Sunday at the Big Dome. But for them to get that first win, the locals will have to step up.

While import Anthony Johnson was at his usual self after exploding for a season-high 41 points, only Gabby Espinas and Ryan Reyes scored in double-digit with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Former MVP Kelly Williams was a big letdown, scoring only six points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field.

Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said that he expects a tough game against Sta. Lucia, but he’s hoping that their build-up they made during the break – they acquired 6-foot-8 Yancy de Ocampo and 6-foot-5 John Ferriols – will help the team a lot.

“We always have a tough time with Sta. Lucia. We have to figure out why and the solution,” he said.

Talk 'N Text is another team that aims to bounce back from a loss as it takes on Rain or Shine, a team eager to surpass its accomplishment in this same conference last season when it reached the semifinals.

The Painters will have the same import in Jai Lewis, who averaged 20.3 points and 15.6 rebounds as he helped the team co-owned by Raymund Yu and Terry Que barged the Final Four, their best finish so far since it joined the pro league in 2007.

In the last Philippine Cup, they reached the quarters and forced eventual champion Purefoods to a sudden-death Game 5 as a wildcard survivor.

“We had a good experience in the all-Filipino. The added experience was good for our confidence as a team, and combine that to the semifinals stint we had in last season’s Fiesta Cup, I think the players are more matured now,” Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said.