Clash of winless squads

Only two teams have yet to taste a victory in the PBA Philippine Cup. After tonight, only one will remain winless.

The struggling San Mig Coffee Mixers and Air21 Express, both with 0-3 (win-loss) records, face each other in today’s first game at 3 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, hoping to finally break into the win column in this all-Filipino tournament.

The main game features the surprising Barako Bull Energy eyeing a 3-0 start against a tough Rain or Shine side.

The losers of today’s first game will find themselves on shaky ground as a 0-4 card nearly halfway through the 14-game elimination round will put them in a deep hole as tournament format states that the teams with the two worst records will get booted out.

San Mig is coming off a 78-91 loss to Petron Blaze while Air21 was downed by the Meralco Bolts, 112-79, in its last game.

The Mixers, who won the Governors’ Cup crown last October,  are currently missing key players, making the task of logging their first win more difficult.

Joe Devance (patellar tendinitis) and PJ Simon (achilles heel) will still be out, leaving the scoring load to superstar James Yap.

“We still got guys out who are not coming back soon,” San Mig coach Tim Cone told pba.ph. “But it’s a long conference, and we expect to get there at some point in the conference.”

Without Simon and Devance, Yap will have to lead the Mixers and he hopes to get some help from Mark Barroca,  Marc Pingris and rookie Ian Sangalang against an Air21 side headed by veterans Asi Taulava and Ren-Ren Ritualo.

Meanwhie, the Energy expect a tough test against the Elasto Painters but they are determined to remain unbeaten and join current leaders Barangay Ginebra and Petron Blaze.

Despite logging impressive wins against Air21 and Alaska, Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos still considers his team as the underdogs against Rain or Shine.

“If we can match their toughness and physicality,  we have a chance to upset them,” Ramos said.

Rain or Shine started the season with two straight wins before losing to the Gin Kings. Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said they can bounce back if  they play tough defense against the hot-shooting Barako Bull team.

“We need to bring down their three-point shooting percentage,” Guiao said. “They’re just too hot from the outside.”  /with reports from pba.ph