Kings, Hotshots in semis showdown?
Games Today (Smart Araneta) 4:30 p.m. – Blackwater vs Magnolia* 7 p.m. – Ginebra* vs NLEX (*twice-to-beat advantage)
Defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia look to arrange a semifinal showdown as they attempt to make short work of their rivals today in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra tries to live up to its billing as the top-ranked team of the playoffs when it takes on eighth seed NLEX in the main game at 7 p.m. after No. 4 Magnolia seeks to end the dream run of No. 5 Blackwater at 4:30 p.m.
Both armed with the twice-to-beat advantage, Ginebra and Magnolia are eyeing their first semifinal duel since last year’s Philippine Cup when the Kings beat the then-Star Hotshots in seven games.
Despite topping the elimination round at 9-2, Ginebra downplayed its chances of an easy route toward a third consecutive title in the season-ending tournament.
Coach Tim Cone had described having the top spot in the playoffs as only “pogi points.”
Ginebra import Justin Brownlee agrees.
“I’m not sure exactly how it’s gonna be but I’m sure it’s gonna be tough, even tougher than the previous two championship runs,” said Brownlee
The Kings’ chances of easily advancing to the semis bodes well with Greg Slaughter apparently regaining his full form after scoring 25 points in Sunday’s 112-93 romp of TNT KaTropa at the Big Dome.
Slaughter played the last two games of the elims after injuring his ankle in early September.
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, for his part, hopes to see his team avoid elimination despite ending the elimination phase having lost four of its final five matches.
Meanwhile, Magnolia carries a psychological edge over Blackwater after cruising to a 133-99 win in the elims.
Blackwater, on the other hand, enters the playoffs with a low morale when it blew a chance at a twice-tobeat edge by dropping three of its final four games.
On Sunday, the Elite fell 97-91 to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, leaving import Henry Walker to lament the wasted opportunity.