Air21, Red Bull now underdogs

In a strange twist, higher seeded teams Air21 and Red Bull set out the underdogs versus Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra at the start of the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Final Four at the Astrodome today.

The Express and the Bulls have lost whatever edge they have with the former to play the series opener minus import Steven Thomas and the latter handicapped by the absence of Carlo Sharma, who sustained a nasty cut on the leg in a freak accident at home.

The Beverage Masters and the Kings, meanwhile, are in high spirit, both chasing a shot at the finals riding the momentum of dramatic surge dating back to the late stage of the elims.

Air21 and Magnolia open their best-of-seven showdown at 4:30 p.m. then Red Bull and Ginebra begin their own race-to-four-game confrontation at 6:50 p.m.

The Express are seeking a first-ever finals stint while the Bulls, the Beverage Masters and the Kings are all out to affirm their status as a champion team.

Red Bull, Magnolia and Ginebra have a combined number of five championships in the last nine PBA tourneys.

After achieving a personal milestone in topping the double-round elims, the Express face a tough test playing without an import versus the Beverage Masters today.

Thomas extended his stay in the US to attend the Cleveland Cavaliers’ training camp. Instead of returning here yesterday, the 6-foot-10 former Middle Tennessee State stalwart is flying back tomorrow.

Sharma, on the other hand, may miss the first two games of the semis due to the leg cut he suffered requiring nine stitches to close.

The major concerns of Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao include his former player Junthy Valenzuela and Ginebra import Chris Alexander.

“We beat them two times in the elims but we would be very foolish to dwell on those memories. The Ginebra team now is very different from the Ginebra team during the eliminations,” said Guiao.

“Ginebra’s on an eight-game streak and Junthy (Valenzuela) is playing a big part. He’s a big loss to us and big addition to Ginebra. He’s Ginebra’s X-factor, providing them stability and control,” Guiao added.

“Alexander, on the other hand, is a rebounding monster. He can score if he wants, but my big concern is his rebounding that fuels Ginebra’s transition game. If we can’t neutralize his rebounding, then we have a big problem.”

Red Bull’s import Adam Parada had been leading the league in rebounding until Alexander came.