MANILA, 19 January 2006 — Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao is one man brimming with confidence.
Guiao’s Red Bull squad took out Alaska in three straight games, getting 24 points and eight rebounds from Lordy Tugade in an 81-65 victory last night that put the Barako in the PBA Fiesta Conference Final Four.
And instead of simply saying that winning another series would be good enough, Guiao is looking at nothing less than winning it all.
“It’s been a long while since we last figured in the Finals,” Guiao said. “Our biggest motivation is not only to get in the Finals but win the championship.” But before getting there, a fully-rested Barangay Ginebra side is waiting at the opposite end, primed and ready to repeat against this same Red Bull team it trounced in this same round last year.
“I feel that their (Gin Kings) long respite could work to our advantage,” added Guiao, after disposing of one of the best built squads in the off-season with surprising ease.
“Ginebra could be rusty in the first two games (of the semis) and you can be sure that we will take advantage of that,” added Guiao.
James Penny tossed in 16 markers and Enrico Villanueva added 12 as Red Bull led the Aces by as many as 22 points at 60-38 in the third period before fending off numerous Alaska comebacks in the fourth.
Tugade scored 17 of his total in the first half and was riding the bench for a much-deserved breather when Alaska saw an opening.
The Aces came to within 12 midway in the fourth period before Tugade was sent back in. The swingman announced his return with a jumper off Jeffrey Cariaso and then fed Penny for a tomahawk jam in the next Red Bull offensive that promptly restored order for the Barako.
Ren-Ren Ritualo scattered 28 points and point guard Wynne Arboleda scored 15 of his 18 markers in the final two periods as Air21 took a 2-1 lead over Talk ‘N Text with a 98-93 victory in the second game at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Ritualo hit timely baskets and Arboleda also held the Express’ offense together as Air21 provided new Talk ‘N Text import and eight-year NBA veteran Darvin Ham a rude welcome that put the Phone Pals on the brink of elimination.
“There’s no doubt that what we really want is to close it out on Friday,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol. “But it won’t be an easy task.”
Ham came here accompanied by so much hype.
The 6-foot-6 veteran of six NBA teams, including the 2004 champion Detroit Pistons, however, struggled big-time.
Though he was not really out of synch, it was clear that Ham, who took over Damien Cantrell, could not immediately jell with the Phone Pals. He finished with a mediocre 16 points and 14 rebounds aside from missing what would have been a thunderous jam late in the fourth period. The Express will be looking to take out the Phone Pals at 7 p.m. tomorrow and seal a best-of-seven series with Purefoods, the second team after the Gin Kings to earn an outright seat in the semifinals after topping the classification phase.
It was actually the second straight victory for the Express, who got two others to contribute 13 or more. Asi Taulava paced the Phone Pals with 29 points and 14 rebounds, but split two crucial trips to the line inside the final three minutes which could have moved Talk ‘N Text closer.
Ham, whom Perasol said they were able to “effectively” scout through tapes, showed a lot of poise despite not contributing heavily and could play a lot better after having had a taste of PBA ball.
