Alaska faces Barako with revenge in mind

Alaska tries to avenge one of its stunning defeats in the PBA Fiesta Cup Friday night when it comes face-to-face again with Barako in the first game of a featured weekend doubleheader at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The other match will have Air21 parading new import Leroy Hickerson when the Express battle the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

The Aces go into their 5 p.m. date with the Energy Coffee Masters still pondering about what went wrong in a 106-98 setback last May 2 against the same lowly team right at the same playing venue in Manila.

The Energy Coffee Makers highlighted the biggest upset of the conference by firing 12 three-pointers.

And coach Tim Cone has been very honest about his concerns in their second meeting with Barako.

“Obviously, they are a team hungry for a win, losing their last two by the slimmest of margins," said Cone. “And they believe they can beat us, which they did the last time out. So our work is really cut out for us."

But the urgency of the situation was different now than before.

The Aces (7-5) are seriously shooting for an outright quarterfinals spot and a win over the Coffee Makers will tie them with Barangay Ginebra and Derby Ace at 8-5.

Alaska is fresh from outlasting the Llamados a week ago in a gripping 99-97 overtime win.

Barako (2-11), on the other hand, mired at the cellar in a tie with Air21.

While it lost its last five games, the team nearly pulled off back-to-back wins in its previous two matches, going down against Air21, 99-98, in a loss that saw Barako rally from a 31-point deficit, and then absorbed a 105-100 overtime loss to Coca-Cola on May 30.

Air21 is also expected to get attention when Hickerson makes his debut against Rashad Bell and the Tigers.

Hickerson takes over Reggie Larry’s spot after the former Brunei Barracudas import in the ASEAN Basketball League proved to be ineffective for the 2-11 Express.

Hickerson’s entry gives coach Yeng Guiao some semblance of hope as the Express try to salvage whatever remains of their bid for a wildcard berth.

“We hope our new import gives us not just the numbers but the confidence boost the team sorely needs," said Air21 coach Yeng Guiao. “This is proof that we have not yet given up on this conference and that we will keep fighting until the end."

Truth be told, Hickerson actually was the Express’ first choice as import. Unfortunately, the dazzling 6-foot-5 player out of Cumberland University suffered a vehicular accident that sidelined him for a while.

Still, Guiao is looking forward that the two-time Mexican League slam dunk champion can carry them to a decent finish in the team’s last five elimination round games.

But the Express will be taking on a Coca-Cola side that has finally snapped out of its nine-game losing slide with a win over Barako to hike its record to 5-8.