The first time they played against each other, Talk N’ Text manhandled Powerade, 108-89.

Exactly five weeks later, the Texters and the Tigers are at it again. And this time the stakes are
greater.

“Big game indeed,” said Chot Reyes, who missed TNT’s last two games because he assisted
Smart-Gilas Pilipinas head coach Rajko Toroman in the recent Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

The Texters and Tigers are poles apart in the team standings but the result of their 7:30 rematch
on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum will make an impact in their respective campaigns in the
2010-11 PBA Philippine Cup.

The Texters are aiming for “W” no.8 to pull abreast with idle Barangay Ginebra [8-3] at no.2
and stay in the hunt for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Powerade, on the other hand, is aiming to put an end to a string of five straight losses to
hopefully stave off elimination that appears imminent with another defeat.

The will to survive often works wonders so Reyes is not leaving anything to chance. His first order
of business upon his return is to re-activate Kelly Williams to shore up their front court and
provide additional scoring threat.

The 6-4 power forward also missed his team’s last two games because he was one of three PBA
players loaned to Smart-Gilas Pilipinas that eventually placed sixth in the Asiad.

Reyes said slowing down Powerade’s up-tempo game and containing Gary David, the league’s
leading scorer, are their top priorities in dealing with the Tigers. They got the job done in their
Oct. 27 faceoff.

“We also must want it [to win] more than them,” Reyes emphasized.

The problem with the Tigers is that they always come up short. To date, they have lost their last
five games and seven of their last eight that landed them at ninth spot with a 3-8 mark.

Bo Perasol, the Powerade coach, admits it would be tough to beat a team like TNT with a bench so
deep. But he and his troops are not giving up just yet.

“Our collective agreement is to make sure that we will fight on as a team. We will go through our
struggles,” Perasol said.

The rematch between Barako Bull and Meralco scheduled at 5 o’clock is also crucial for both
teams.

“Our goal is to continue to climb up the ladder. So we have to take care of our business,” said
Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

The 5-5 Bolts are tied for fifth and sixth place with idle Rain or Shine but could dislodge B-Meg
Derby Ace (6-6) at fourth spot should they avenge their 68-74 loss to the Energy Boosters last Oct.
10.

“We learned a stinging lesson in our first meeting and we want to make sure our mistakes are
rectified,” Gregorio said.

The three-time Coach of the Year said he is pleased with the kind of progress his team has made
lately.

“We are competing and winning in the end. But we are not out of the woods yet. We are determined
to compete and make it to the Top 6,” he proclaimed.

Gregorio said the Energy Boosters are a dangerous team and could not be taken lightly. “It makes
them even more dangerous because they are fighting for dear life.” he said.

The 2-9 Barako Bull is teetering on the brink of elimination and one more defeat would make its
exit official.

But Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi isn’t about to wave the white flag.

“It’s not yet over for us. We’ll try to win tomorrow and see what happens,” he said.

Baculi said containing Mac Cardona and Gabby Espinas and dominating the boards will be the key to
repeating over the Bolts. (DBC)