Lang, Asaytono see action for Red Bull

Red Bull may be coming off a deeply humiliating defeat to San Miguel Beer nearly two weeks ago but the Thunder are confident they can bounce back strong tonight against the Coca-Cola Tigers with two good reasons.

First is the return of Tony Lang and second is the comeback of Nelson Asaytono.

It may only be a coincidence but Lang and Asaytono fittingly mark their return in the league against Coca-Cola at six tonight at the Makati Coliseum.

Lang, the Commissioner’s Cup Best Import awardee last year, finds himself ranged against Ron Hale, a teammate in the recent Japan Super League who is the hottest import in town at the moment.

Asaytono, meanwhile, finds himself in an early collision course with the very team which junked him at the end of the 2001 campaign. The 6-foot-3 forward out of University of Manila is likely to wage a personal war against the Tigers in an effort to prove he can still compete with the best of them in the league.

With these as interesting subplots, the Thunder and the Tigers clash tonight with both seeking to formalize passage into the Samsung PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.

Red Bull is running third with a 5-2 win-loss card while Coca-Cola is a shade below at fourth with a 5-3 slate. Both are coming off losses with the Thunder falling to a 67-89 ambush by the Beermen last March 22 in Lipa City and the Tigers bowing to the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 86-87, two days later.

A classic duel by Lang and Hale is likely to highlight the Red Bull-Coca- Cola tiff.

Curiously, Lang and Hale were the one-two punch of the Mitsubishi Electric Melco Dolphins in the recent Japan Super League. The two alternated in topscoring for the Dolphins in 18 games with Hale averaging 25.6 points and Lang 22.1 points.

At 6-foot-6 5/8, Hale is 2/8 of an inch shorter but six years younger than Lang. For the record, it was Lang who recommended Hale to Coca-Cola.