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AIR21 takes on Magnolia while Red Bull clashes with
Barangay Ginebra when the best-of-7 semifinal series kicks off
Sunday in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Beverage Masters, who downed
the Coca-Cola Tigers 78-60 to complete the semis cast on Friday,
take on top seed Air21 at 4:30 p.m.
Magnolia held down Coke to a
league-low 20-percent shooting, powering their way to the
franchise’s second straight Fiesta Conference semifinals and sixth
semis in the last eight years.
Amal McCaskill, who notched
double-double performances in the quarterfinals, is set to dominate
since Air 21 import Steve Thomas will most likely miss the series
opener.
Thomas has been invited to attend
the tryouts for the Korean league in Las Vegas and has extended his
stay in the United States to take part in the Cleveland Cavaliers’
training camp. The Air21 reinforcement will be back on Monday.
Air21 coach Bo Perasol, however,
said the team is ready to play even without their import and he will
bank on his locals Doug Kramer, Ranidel de Ocampo and Homer Se to
match up with his opponent’s reinforcement.
“Napakalaki ng adjustment na
kailangan naming gawin. He’s the only player who can match up with
the big men ng ibang teams. It’s a tall order for us but the boys
are positive that we can prove something out of that,” Perasol
said, who scored a breakthrough for the franchise after securing an
outright semis berth.
But McCaskill will not be the
only thorn for the Express with Lordy Tugade and Dondon Hontiveros
playing well in both ends of the court for the Beverage Masters.
Tugade starred in Magnolia’s
Game 1 siege, scoring 20 points while Hontiveros added 13 points.
Both players scored 14 points when they tamed the Tigers in Game 2.
Meanwhile, the Gin Kings, who
eliminated the Philippine Cup titlist Sta. Lucia Realtors, take on
the Barakos at 6:50 p.m.
Barangay Ginebra, which is on its
first Final Four appearance since the 2005-06 season, is riding on a
seven-game winning streak dating back to the eliminations.
Red Bull defeated Sta. Lucia to
end the elimination round with an 11-7 record, enough to clinch the
franchise’s seventh straight Final Four stint.
--Krista Angela Montealegre
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