Star eyes No. 3; TNT taps Greene vs B’water

Game today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. – Blackwater vs TNT KaTropa 7 p.m. – NLEX vs Star

Star seeks to keep its unbeaten run against NLEX while TNT KaTropa goes for a second win in a row as it finally fields in its import Donte Greene versus Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Hotshots, handily winning their first two games against the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the GlobalPort Batang Pier, are the odds-on choice in their 7 p.m. setto versus an NLEX squad mired in a long slump from last conference.

The Texters, meanwhile, are favored in their 4:15 p.m. tiff against a Blackwater team hit by injuries to key players.

Then there’s Greene, the No. 28 pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2008 NBA Draft who is finally strutting his stuff in the local pro league after getting his release papers from the Puerto Rican league.

Greene is taking over from Lou Amundson who helped the Texters to a 1-1 start in the tourney, contributing 20 points and eight rebounds in their 134-109 rout of the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Greene is tipped to be a better all-around player and scorer than Amundson.

Though the favored teams, the Hotshots and the Texters are not taking the Road Warriors and the Elite lightly.

“First game; relatively short time to learn our system. We just have to see how he fares,” said TNT coach Nash Racela on his concern on Greene’s first game with the Texters.

Still, TNT’s is favored especially with the report that Mac Belo aggravated an old knee injury making him extremely doubtful in tonight’s game.

Blackwater has earlier lost Arthur dela Cruz to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

“NLEX is a dangerous team. With a great coach, they can beat anybody,” said Star coach Chito Victolero.