KINGS, BOLTS CLASH IN VITAL TIFF
Second-running Barangay Ginebra and No. 6 Meralco push for their respective bids as they renew their rivalry in a crucial PBA Philippine Cup duel tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. STANDINGS The Gin Kings SAN MIGUEL 8-1
(6-2) seek to give GINEBRA 6-2
their Top 2 campaign TNT 8-3
a boost while the BLACKWATER 5-2 MAGNOLIA 5-3
Bolts (4-3) look to MERALCO 4-3 CONVERGE 4-5 move closer to the
playoffs in the 6 p.m. NLEX 4-5 NORTHPORT 2-6
match following the PHOENIX 2-6 RAIN OR SHINE 2-6 equally important TERRAFIRMA 0-8
battle between Blackwater (5-2) and Rain or Shine (26) at 3 p.m.
Ginebra and Meralco face off for the first time since their Governors’ Cup title clash won by the former in six games. The rivals face off without their head coaches with Gin Kings mentor Tim Cone serving the Miami Heat’s NBA Summer League team and Bolts tactician Norman Black attending to his ailing mother in the United States.
They enter the court coming off contrasting fates with Ginebra bowing to TNT, 106-92, and Meralco beating Rain or Shine, 77-73.
“We still have a chance at Top 2 so we’ll move on,” Ginebra interim coach Richard del Rosario said after the loss to TNT. “We’ll correct the things that we need to correct and then look forward.”
Luigi Trillo steered Meralco to victory over Rain or Shine and will join hands with Ronnie Magsanoc in manning the ramparts.
“Tulungan lang kami. I’m sure coach Norman would want to be here and we’re just holding the fort. But obviously he has more important things, his mom,” said Trillo. “Hopefully, we can get a couple more wins para when he gets back, at least we have a shot at entering the playoffs, a better chance.”
Meanwhile, the Bossing try to bounce back from their 110-107 overtime loss to leader San Miguel Beer and stay in the mix in the chase for the two win-once incentives.
The Elasto Painters, on the other hand, eye a follow-up to their 96-86 upset of NLEX to keep their quarterfinal hopes
alive.