Now comes the tougher part.

With little time to prepare and their respective foes well-rested and bristling to do battle, the Kings and Express must dig deep to muster the energy and will today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 squares off with Talk N Text and Ginebra tackles Smart-Gilas in the opening matches of the best-of-five series, with the Tropang Texters and Nationals having had ample rest after finishing the nine-game eliminations at 1-2 and automatically qualifying for the semis.

Everything the Kings and Express could muster is welcome after they went through the wringer of the quarterfinals that went the full three-game routes.

"Sunod-sunod na ang mga games, so you really have no time to prepare. You just need your legs and then just do the best you can in terms of game plan," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

Air21 coach Bong Ramos believes his team’s familiarity with the same squad that gave his charges a 124-110 thrashing in their lone game in the eliminations last March 5 leaves few surprises.

"Sa game plan na lang magkakatalo against Talk N Text," he stated after the Express scored a come-from-behind 97-94 win over the favored Alaska Aces. "We will try our best to give them a good game every game, far better than in our first game."

Texters coach Chot Reyes agreed, saying: "We’re not surprised we’re playing Air21. In fact from the time they were playing their last game in the eliminations we already started preparing for them.

"They’re deep, well coached and have the league’s best import (in Alpha Bangura). In fact they controlled every game in their series versus Alaska. This team has no weaknesses."

What nagged at Reyes was the fact his team has had only scrimmages since its last elims game on April 3 and that may have some ill-effects on the Texters. "For sure, meron," he said. "But that’s a reality we have to deal with."

Gilas beat Ginebra 111-104 in their lone elims meeting last March 30 with Marcus Douthit notching 30 points and 17 rebounds. He scored 14 of his points in the final canto to pluck the Nationals for good from a 97-91 count.

The seven-foot center, however, is expected to miss at least today’s game after slightly fracturing a bone on his right hand in Gilas’ last elims outing against Meralco on April 2, with the injury needing three weeks to heal.

But Chris Tiu, who missed those games due to a left shoulder injury, is back in harness.

As is his wont, Gilas coach Rajko Toroman downplayed his team’s chances, saying: "Ginebra is a very good team. There won’t be an easy game, I think. I hope people will enjoy the games."

Uichico, for his part, said: "If Douthit does not play, there’s (still (Greg) Slaughter and others. They (also) have a good system."

The Kings advanced after beating Rain or Shine 92-82 for the last semis ticket.

One thing making Uichico positive is the fact there are enough games to make the needed modifications in the Kings’ games.

"We’ve got a shot. Kasi pag eliminations one game lang. Now you have a series and hopefully you can make the proper adjustments. You’ve played them already and you’ve seen them a lot of times. You just have to give up some things in their arsenal," he stated.

Noli Cortez, Business Malaya Insight