Alaska Aces caged the Coca-Cola Tigers, 69-62, Saturday to tie Talk N Text and Rain or Shine at the top of the standings, all with 2-0 mark, in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup. The Aces had no trouble disposing of the Tigers as they led by double digits in the first half. They relaxed for a while in the third canto, allowing Coca-Cola to come charging back. But the Aces regrouped in the fourth quarter to regain the momentum and hand the Tigers their second straight loss. The low-scoring contest was the PBA seasons first road game played at the newly-built Victorias gym in Victorias, Negros Occidental. LA Tenorio and Sonny Thoss led Alaska, both with 11 markers. Thoss also grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots, giving him the honor of being named the Best Player of the Game. Coca-Cola joined Red Bull and Air21 at the bottom of the standings, all with a 0-2 slate. The Talk N Text Tropang Texters seek to assume solo leadership of the pack with a win against the defending champion Sta. Lucia Realtors in Sunday's doubleheader at the Araneta Coliseum. In the nightcap of Sunday's game, the Barangay Ginebra Kings aim for a second straight win with a victory against the Air21 Express. The Tropang Texters would be playing without Ali Peek who is suffering from a right calf injury. Despite this, Talk N Text remains the team to beat, considering its potent backcourt duo of rookie Jared Dillinger and all-star player Jimmy Alapag. Alapag and Dillinger each scored 23 points in Talk N Texts come-from-behind 112-101 win over Air21 last Oct. 9, leading three others in double figures. On the other hand, Ginebra will be playing still without the services of Mark Caguioa, Billy Mamaril, Junthy Valenzuela and Raffy Reavies because of injuries. The game with Air21 will be sort of a replay of the Fiesta Conference last season, which Ginebra struggled to win. __
