AFTER getting badly beaten its last time out, Terrafirma is bristling to bounce back and regain its winning ways.
It sure would take a lot of doing for standing in the way of the Dyip are the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters who want nothing more than extend their own mini roll Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A win by Terrafirma would help erase the stigma of a 40-point loss to TNT last week, give it a 3-2 record and break it out of its current tie with the idle Tropang Giga, NLEX and NorthPort.
Phoenix, on the other hand, is aiming for a third straight win that should give it solo second-running spot on a 4-1 card.
What gives Dyip coach Johnedel Cardel optimism is the fact import Thomas de Thaey, top gunner Juami Tiongson and Kemark Carino are all set to see action after sitting out the TNT game due to either illness or injury.
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"Full lineup na kami versus Phoenix," said Cardel before singling out De Thaey, who suffered a groin injury late in the course of a 113-112 squeaker over NLEX last Nov. 18 and prompted team officials to explore the option of replacing him.
"Nag-eensayo na and healthy na raw siya, and based sa nakikita namin mukhang okay naman," related Cardel. "Pero he would still be under observation. We still want to see how he performs in an actual game."
The burly Belgian's inside presence and averages of 19.3 points and 11.67 rebounds are surely needed to help counter Phoenix's twin threats at the post in Jonathan Williams and Jason Perkins.
The southpaw Williams leads the Fuel Masters in scoring with 25.5 points and 6.0 assists while also being a large presence on defense with 14 rebounds, 1.67 blocks and 1.0 steals an outing.
For his part, Perkins has averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last two games after norming just 5.5 and 4.5 in Phoenix's first two matches.
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What should ease the pressure on the protagonists' paint patrollers are their respective snipers.
Phoenix's shooters are sure to be led by Tyler Tio, RJ Jazul and Sean Manganti while Tiongson, the much-improved Javi Gomez de Liano and Stephen Holt should banner Terrafirma's marksmen. (NC)
