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AIR21 shoots for solo leadership while Welcoat tries to avoid
automatic elimination when they face each other Wednesday in the
2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import Steve Thomas and locals Gary David, Niño
Canaleta and Ranidel de Ocampo are expected to lead the Express, who
are seeking their 10th win against cellar-dweller Dragons at 4:50
p.m.
The four players scored in double figures in
their 112-111 win over the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals on June 13.
Air21, which is in a three-way tie for the lead
with Coca-Cola and Red Bull at 9-6, is also aiming to repeat its
105-96 victory over Welcoat on March 30.
In that game, Thomas, de Ocampo and Gabby
Espinas took over in the absence of JC Intal, Homer Se, Gabby
Espinas and Ervin Sotto as the Express spoiled the coaching debut of
Caloy Garcia.
Welcoat, on the other hand, is bringing back
Alex Compton as replacement for import Corey Santee in an effort to
avoid elimination and improve on its 4-11 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, the race for the two automatic
semifinal slots gets tighter as defending champion Alaska tries to
stretch its winning run to seven against Sta. Lucia Realty at 7:20
p.m.
Alaska, fresh from its 104-81 conquest of
Welcoat on June 11, is at second with eight wins against six losses.
Leading the Aces, whose six game winning streak
started with a 99-91 decision over Coca-Cola on May 14, are import
Randy Holcomb, Willie Miller, LA Tenorio and Jeffrey Cariaso.
Alaska’s last loss came from Purefoods, 78-88,
in Calape, Bohol, on May 10.
Sta. Lucia Realty, which defeated Alaska 93-86
on April 2, will bank on new import Lee Benson and locals Kelly
Williams, Nelbert Omolon, Dennis Espino and Paolo Mendoza.
-- Krista Angela Montealegre
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