Air 21's Ronjay Buenafe (center) squeezes a shot between Niño Canaleta and Roger Yap of B-Meg during their game last Sunday at the Astrodome in Pasay City. The Llamados won, 92-75. (Photo by ALI VICOY)

Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — B-Meg Derby Ace vs Coca-Cola
7:30 p.m. — Air21 vs Alaska

Philippine Cup champion B-Meg Derby Ace shoots for its third win against Coca-Cola while Alaska hopes to put a couple of heartbreaking defeats behind when it tangles with Air21 in the PBA Fiesta Cup this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The B-Meg Llamados and the Tigers collide in the first game at 5 p.m., while the Aces and the Express clash at 7:30 p.m.

B-Meg Derby Ace, which won the all-Filipino championship under the banner Purefoods TJ by sweeping Alaska in their best-of-seven series, is coming off impressive wins over Sta. Lucia Realty (86-79) and Air21 (92-75).

Against Coke, Derby Ace, however, will have to play harder since the Tigers are determined to bounce back from a 91-98 loss to Ginebra last April 4 that ended their three-game winning streak.

Tigers head coach Bo Perasol said that facing the Llamados, led by import Lo Wade and Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference James Yap, will not only test their character but also their ability to rebound from a loss.

“Our game against Derby Ace will be a test for us,” Perasol said.

“How we can match up with the best in the league. We understand that it will not be easy, we need our A-1 game,” added Perasol.

For Coke to beat B-Meg, hardworking import James Penny, a veteran campaigner in the pro league, must come up with another solid numbers.

Despite averaging 30.25 points and 12.5 rebounds, Penny needs his teammates, especially Asi Taulava, to deliver big time.

Taulava, a former MVP, was a big flop the last time as he was held scoreless.

But Coke’s main problem is how to match up with B-Meg’ tall frontline that include Rafi Reavis, Marc Pingris, Nino Canaleta, rookie Rico Maierhofer and Don Allado.

B-Meg mainstay Kerby Raymundo, who missed the first two games to rest his injured right knee, is again a doubtful starter.

The backcourt players of Coke, including Gary David, Chico Lanete, and Mark Macapagal, will have to come out strong against James Yap, Roger Yap, and Paul Artadi.

For the Aces to barge into the win-column, they have to start aggressively on both ends to start their bleeding. They actually lost six straight games since the finals of the Philippine Cup.

In their 95-89 overtime defeat to San Miguel Beer, the Aces had the chance to win it in regulation play but Willie Miller just split his charities with 1.5 ticks left.

Even with the loss, Alaska coach Tim Cone sees some positive signs that they comeback.

“We saw some positive things in our last game and we’ll try to build on that going into the game (opposite Air21),” said Cone as his team will be up against a ball club that lost its last two games. “We’ll have to manage our tough early schedule and pick up wins where we can.”

Meantime, in celebration of its 35th anniversary, the league will raffle off one laptop and five gift certificates (computer accessories) worth P2,000 each courtesy of PC Gilmore, five Molten basketballs and 1 Extreme Magic Sing as treat to its fans who will watch the games live. The “Bingo Bola ng PBA” will also hold a special draw that offers P35,000 to the lucky winner.

The FEU pep squad, the reigning UAAP cheering squad champion, will provide entertainment at the break.