PBA Halloween Treat: Kings, Express try to sustain winning run

Two teams currently on a two-game winning run try to stretch their fortunes Friday at the resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. Barangay Ginebra takes on dangerous Rain or Shine, while Air21 battles Barako Bull in a pair of weekend games kicking off the league’s three-day schedule as part of its Halloween treat. Although on a winning mode, both the Kings and Express believe their respective opponents are capable of giving them a big scare. “I feel that Barako Bull has the potential to beat any team in the league on a good night. Our job is to make sure that they (Boosters) don’t have a good night," said Air21 coach Yeng Guiao. For his part, Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico remarked, “I remember that we had to have endgame spurts to beat that team (Elasto Painters). We can’t rely on that always." The Kings opened their season campaign by losing two of their first three games as they lacked interior toughness in the absence of injured big men Eric Menk and Yancy de Ocampo. But they have since settled down and won their last two games with an average winning margin of 15 points. Veteran forward Rudy Hatfield had a lot to do with it, providing the inside presence the Kings badly needed. In the team’s last two outings, the energetic King averaged 17 rebounds and 13.5 points. He capped his solid performances by grabbing a conference-best 22 boards in Ginebra’s 93-74 rout of Barako Bull last Oct. 22. Playing erratic of late, Rain or Shine is definitely the underdog in the 7:30 p.m. main game. Although credited as the first ball club to deal Talk ‘N Text its first loss (95-93), the Elasto Painters came out flat the next game, bowing 87-79 to the Meralco Bolts. “We haven’t been consistent in how we play," admitted Elasto Painters coach Caloy Garcia. “Ginebra is a team that you can’t allow to dictate the tempo from the start. We have to match their intensity." A third straight win by the Kings will allow them to take solo third place behind co-leaders Talk ‘N Text and San Miguel Beer. The Express and the Energy Boosters are set to cross paths at 5 p.m. To their credit, the Express were the first to burst Alaska’s bubble this conference with a come-from-behind 86-83 win. “The two-game win streak did a lot of good for our confidence," Guiao said. “We’re moving well in practice and we hope we can translate that air of confidence into a win." An Air21 win will have the team catching up with Alaska at fourth spot with a 3-2 record, keeping itself on track for a spot in the playoffs. Barako Bull, on the other hand, carries a 1-3 card, just a notch above cellar dweller Derby Ace (1-4). - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV