A pair of matches with championship atmosphere makes up Wednesday’s PBA Fiesta Cup offering at the Araneta Coliseum. Barangay Ginebra takes on defending champion San Miguel, while Barako Energy Coffee and Air21 clash in a virtual battle of survival Express coach Yeng Guiao referred to as a `championship game.’ “To us, it’s really a championship game," said Guiao of the Express’ 5 p.m. meeting with the Coffee Makers. At 2-9, Barako Coffee is just a notch higher than Air21, whose franchise worst nine-game losing skid has relegated the team to the cellar with a 1-10 record.
“It's clearly a make-or-break game for us. If we tie at two wins each we believe we can still win one or two games which should be enough to get us out of the cellar. That's how significant this game is for us," said Guiao. " “We're trying to get out of the cellar and possibly being eliminated first. On their part, they're trying to stave us off with the knowledge that if they gain a two-game lead against us, with only seven games to go, they will be difficult to catch," added the fiery mentor about his former team. The Express’ first and only win in the import-laden tournament ironically, came against the Coffee Masters, 113-108, almost two months ago. Following the return of star point guard Wynne Arboleda from a seven-month suspension, the Express gave the Beermen a big scare before yielding a 100-106 decision in their last outing. That victory stretched San Miguel’s winning streak to nine for a league-best 10-1 record, and within reach of an outright berth in the semifinals. Ginebra coach Jong Uichico has marveled at the firepower the Beermen have at their disposal, even suggesting that only Talk `N Text – at this point - can fully matched up with the defending champion talent wise. “We know they’re the number 1 team, and that’s why we have to play every possession like it was the last," he noted. The Kings, who lost to the Beermen in seven games during the Fiesta Cup Finals last season, have managed to stay afloat even after altering their roster by trading away Cyrus Baguio for Willie Miller and tapping a new import in Milton Ambres. Only last Saturday, the league’s most popular ballclub pulled off its most important win since tampering with its lineup, fighting back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to turn back Alaska, 105-93, for its seventh win in 11 games. The remarkable come-from-behind win isn’t lost to San Miguel mentor Siot Tanquingcen. He said, “It’s always a challenge playing Ginebra because they are well coached. And like coach Jong said, they find ways even when they are struggling. And now that they have a resurgence of their own going, we can’t afford to let them outhustle us in rebounds and in transition." -
RCJ, GMANews.TV 
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