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RED BULL attempts to bolster its bid for an outright semifinal berth
while Sta. Lucia fights for a playoff spot as they face each other
Sunday in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta
Coliseum.
A victory for the Barakos in their 4:30 p.m.
match will give them a share of the top spot with surprise
league-leader Air21, which is sporting a 10-6 record.
The Barakos, who are looking to bounce back from
their heartbreaking 93-91 loss to the Purefoods TJ Giants on June
15, has to sweep their last three assignments to secure an automatic
semis slot
Red Bull, which will meet Welcoat on July 25 and
Talk ‘N Text on July 4, hopes to repeat its 105-78 triumph over
Sta. Lucia in the first round.
Sta. Lucia Realty, on the other hand, seeks to
improve its 7-8 slate as it guns for back-to-back victories to end
the elimination round.
The Realtors will bank on import Lee Benson, who
fired 22 points and collared 28 rebounds in their 95-75 victory over
the Alaska Aces on June 18. That victory put back Sta. Lucia into
the win column after losing four-straight and also snapped the
Aces’ amazing six-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, Alaska shoots for a playoff slot when
it tackles Barangay Ginebra at 6:50 p.m.
The Aces, who are eyeing a repeat of their
102-89 rout of the Gin Kings on April 6 at the Ynares Center, try to
join Coca-Cola and Magnolia at third with a 9-7 record.
But expect Barangay Ginebra to put up a strong
challenge as it guns for a fourth-straight win. With Mark Caguioa
still unable to play solid minutes because of injury, Jayjay
Helterbrand has stepped up for the Gin Kings and his end-game
heroics and all-around performance has further strengthened
Ginebra’s determined campaign for a playoff spot.
-- Krista Angela Montealegre
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