B-Meg Derby Ace's Mark Pingris scores off Rain or Shine import Rod Nealy during Friday's Game 1 of the PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals at the Araneta Coliseum. The Llamados won, 108-102. (Photo by BOB DUNGO, JR.)

Games Sunday (Astrodome, Pasay City)
4 p.m. — Alaska vs Ginebra
6:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs B-Meg Derby Ace

B-Meg Derby Ace and Alaska try to repeat over separate opponents in Game 2 of the best-of-five PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals this Sunday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

The Llamados meet the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 6:30 p.m., following the 4 p.m. encounter between the Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

The series openers Friday went down the wire, with B-Meg surviving a late comeback by Rain or Shine to score a 108-102 victory, while Alaska carved out a narrow 78-72 win over Ginebra.

The Aces used their height advantage against the Kings, controlling the boards, 63-52, and shooting better from the field, 30-of-81 (37 percent) as against their opponent’s 30-of-90 (33.3 percent).

“We need to keep doing more of the same, keep pounding it inside and force Ginebra to find an antidote to our size advantage,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

The Aces held the Kings’ prolific backcourt of Willie Miller, Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa, and Mike Cortez to a combined 27 points.

Ace shooter James Yap had 31 points in B-Meg’s win, showing once again that he can be at his best, even with all the off-court distractions.

Veteran guard PJ Simon also had a solid game for the Llamados, adding 14 points, highlighted by a huge three-pointer that gave the reigning Philippine Cup champion a 106-102 lead with 15.1 seconds left.

Still, B-Meg mentor Ryan Gregorio expects a tough series, pointing to Rain or Shine’s import Rob Nealy and Fil-Americans Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado as formidable players,

“Rain or Shine’s ‘big three’ accounted for almost 80 percent of their production,” Gregorio said. “Together with Nealy, Norwood and Mercado also played like imports.”

“We didn’t play our normal defense (in the series opener). I thought we stole Game 1. We expect an even tougher match in Game 2. It’s important that we come in thinking that we are not ahead. We must be stronger, tougher and smarter than them,” he added.

Gregorio said they’re fortunate to win Game 1, citing the 28 fouls called against the Llamados compared to Rain or Shine’s 16.