Games on Wednesday: (Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Meralco vs. Shopinas.com
7:30 p.m. – B-Meg vs. Alaska


WHEN Alaska announced its shocking release of head coach Tim Cone early last month, Wilfred Uytengsu, the team owner, was asked whether he would treasure it very much beating the man who gave his franchise 13 championships in a 22-year span.

Uytengsu never actually replied the way the media had hoped, saying that “I am looking forward to beating anybody in the PBA except Alaska.”

The Aces haven’t defeated any team yet, but they now have the chance to put one over on their former mentor who, too, has yet been unsuccessful with his new powerhouse ball club.

Alaska and Cone appear on the same playing court today but, unusually, at opposite ends of the floor for the first time in more than two decades, with the Aces clashing with B-Meg on a day when four winless teams see action in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I know in many people’s mind that this is a big game,” said Cone.

“But as a team we want to approach this as just another game we need to advance in the standings. Are there going to be some butterflies for me personally?... Certainly.”

Cone officially left Alaska Sept. 1, and a few weeks after that, took the reins of a Llamados quintet that performed below expectations last season.

His first game against Petron last Oct. 5 didn’t turn out right, suffering a 73-69 defeat in a game where the Boosters were the ones obviously better down the stretch. B-Meg, for its part, appeared loose, still learning the ropes of the Triangle system Cone has used successfully with Alaska.

“Both teams are coming off a loss and we want to get that first win,” Cone said.

Meralco and Shopinas.com likewise will shoot for their first win, and the Bolts’ woes have been compounded with the news that Mark Cardona is unfit for today’s game.

Cardona suffered a sprained ankle six minutes into Meralco’s game against Talk ‘N Text last Oct. 7, joining ace guard Sol Mercado and forward Reynel Hugnatan on the injury list. The Bolts, after losing Cardona, never had a chance against the Tropang Texters, 98-80.

“Our starters are out but our spirit is not broken,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “Right now, we are more concerned to make the necessary adjustments to plug the holes left by our injured players.

Defense will be the key if we want to compete because we have nobody to rely on but ourselves.”

Shopinas.com, from the outside, doesn’t look like it stands a chance  against Meralco. But the absence of the Bolts’ superstars and the fine-tuning Meralco is still going through may work in the Clickers’ favour.

Shopinas.com lost to Powerade in its first meeting, 98-87. But the Clickers showed that they could give an opponent a scare when treated lightly, nearly wiping out a 40-16 deficit to within 73-70.

Yet it will be Cone and his Llamados who will certainly draw the spotlight tonight.

After dropping its initial outing, B-Meg will be scrutinized whether it has already perfected Cone’s system and whether Cone has already found the perfect combination of a roster that’s difficult to rotate because of its deep line-up.

While loaded with length, the Llamados were out-rebounded in the first game by the Boosters, and shot an abysmal 38 percent from the field (26-of-68). James Yap went 4-of-17 from the field in that game and Kerby Raymundo 3-of-10.

Alaska was the last among the 10 teams to see action last Sunday, and the Aces took an 83-72 beating from Ginebra. LA Tenorio was held to eight points on 1-of-8 shooting.