POD: Purefoods+2.5 vs. Ginebra (3K units) L

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Preview: Even in an elimination round game, Purefoods’ coach Ryan Gregorio insists that they must already come out and play as if it were already the playoffs. No ifs, no buts.

Especially when the team they’re up against next is Ginebra.

“Playing Ginebra in the eliminations gives you a playoff atmosphere,” said Gregorio. Nothing less than a playoff brand of performance is required to match their intensity and energy.”

The Giants and the Gin Kings square off in a battle between two teams that came through with impressive victories in their respective opening games, the winner seizing the solo lead in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

Purefoods wore down Burger King (93-80) exactly a week ago in a game where Japeth Aguilar played his first and last for the Whoppers, while Ginebra stunned tournament favorite San Miguel (98-86) three days after in results that reflected how ready they are this early in the season.

Gregorio was amazed at how the Gin Kings beat the Beermen despite the obvious disadvantage in height and talent. Now he must find a way to stop the weapon Ginebra used against San Miguel, and hope that they can dictate the tempo of the match throughout to take the crowd away from the game.

“They used their overwhelming advantage in quickness to run the ground the more talented and taller Beemen. They played with tremendous grit and determination. They get their energy once they score on fastbreaks, and the solution to that is that we have to take high percentage shots,” said Gregorio.

Containing Ginebra’s running game isn’t the only thing that’s posing headaches for the Giants. This time, Purefoods must also uncover an answer against the man who has been the Gin Kings’ main firepower for years -- Mark Caguio.

The player they refer to as ‘The Spark’ lived up to his moniker when he finally played for Ginebra after missing the entire 2008-09 season. He scored 17 points against San Miguel, yet the thing statistics do not show is the impact of his presence, the energy he gives to the team and the leadership he provides.

“He must be contained, he has given Ginebra an added boost in the energy department,” said Gregorio of Caguioa.

The match-up of Caguioa and James Yap is certainly the one that the crowd wants to see. Yap debuted with 12 points against the Whoppers.

Coach Jong Uichico doesn’t see speed advantage tilting heavily on Ginebra. He says that Purefoods, too, is a ball club that has quickness, with a frontline to match their own.

“We have to find a weakness in their system,” said Uichico. “They have the height and speed to match any team.”

Although Purefoods is a team built around on James Yap, Peter Jun Simon and Marc Pingris, a newcomer in the ball club but a PBA veteran led the Giants to victory in its first game.

Raffi Reavies shone brightest as the former Ginebra forward wound up with 20 rebounds and 14 points, and he is expected again to play a key role against the Gin Kings’ frontline.

Coca-Cola and Barako Bull, on the other hand, try to barge into the win column when they collide in the first game.

The Tigers suffered a 95-76 thrashing from Sta. Lucia Realty the other night while the Energy Boosters faded in the second half in a 99-83 defeat to Alaska.

Meantime, the PBA is expected to hand down a decision on Wynne Arboleda early next week.

The Burger King guard will appear before Commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios on Monday to explain his side of the story why he kicked and punched a ringside fan during the Whoppers’ game against Smart-Gilas.

The fan, known as Alain Katigbak, has already filed formal charges.