Top spot up for grabs as hottest teams play in PBA Wednesday

The league’s top three teams see action on Wednesday with the hope of sustaining their awesome start in the season-opening PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. Barangay Ginebra, the league’s hottest team in the midst of a five-game winning run, tries to extend its victory run to six when it takes on skidding Barako Bull in the 5 p.m. opener. The Gin Kings have been demolishing their opponents with an average winning margin of 14.7 points per game, with Fiesta Cup titlist Alaska being their latest victim, 79-68. The Energy Boosters, on the other hand, are on a three-game slide and is at the cellar with a 2-6 card. A win by Ginebra (6-2) will earn for them a share of the lead or solo second place, depending on the outcome of the second game between Talk ‘N Text (6-2) and San Miguel (7-2). Ginebra already destroyed Barako in their first meeting, the first of the Kings’ last six wins, 93-74, and the Kings are looking to continue their rampage. “We play one game at a time. Hopefully we win enough games to be on top. I hope we can keep our great run going," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. The Tropang Texters and the Beermen slug it out in the 7:30 p.m. main game in a much-awaited clash. “Magiging mahirap ito para sa amin kasi malakas din ang Talk ‘N Text. Dapat sa simula pa lang ipakita na namin yung laro namin kasi mahihirapan kami kung makakauna sila," said San Miguel coach Ato Agustin. The Beermen, who have won six of their last seven games, are on top of the standings, but a loss to the Texters would push Talk ‘N Text to first place while relegating them to the No. 2 spot. “The team’s character will be tested in this game, but I believe the guys will be ready against San Miguel,’’ said Texters coach Chot Reyes. Talk ‘N Text will play its first of two games minus Reyes, who is serving as a special assistant to the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas team in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. “Coach Nash (Racela) will take over for me for two games and we prepared for that. The team will play the same way without me. I am confident that they can rise to the occasion." – KY, JVP, GMANews.TV