Phoenix gets another shot at playoff

Games Today (Ynares Center, Antipolo City) 4:15 p.m. – Globalport vs Blackwater 7 p.m. – Ginebra vs Phoenix

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Phoenix have different goals in mind when they square off today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Ginebra will once again be without Greg Slaughter while eyeing its fourth straight win in the 7 p.m. encounter, while Phoenix shoots for a first-ever playoff appearance in only the team’s second conference in the pro circuit.

Their match comes after the 4:15 p.m. pitting Globalport and Blackwater, two teams already eliminated from quarterfinal contention.

Ginebra is coming off a 93-86 win over Mahindra last Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. But the win was costly after Slaughter suffered an ACL injury on his right knee, thus spoiling his return following surgery to remove bone spurs on his right foot.

“Losing Greg at this point (playoff coming up) has been devastating to the team… and of course to him,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said. “He was the guy we pinned our hope.”

Slaughter is expected to be out for the season.

Phoenix, meanwhile, is considering tonight’s game as its ultimate test which coach Ariel Vanguardia hopes the team will pass with flying colors.

“It’s the ultimate test to our young team,” said Vanguardia, who took over from coach Koy Banal prior to the start of the conference.

Phoenix was denied on a chance to make the quarters last Saturday when it fell 103-87 to Alaska at the Mall of Asia Arena. Another loss could relegate the Fuel Masters to a playoff for the eighth-and-final quarters berth.

The Fuel Masters are tied for sixth to eighth places with the Aces and NLEX Road Warriors at 5-5, one game ahead of the ninth-running Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who has a 4-6 card.

Rain or Shine will secure either a playoff or an automatic entry to the quarters depending on the result of the other remaining games of the elimination round.

“We were very tight versus Alaska,” said Vanguardia. “We were a step late, and we could not get on our flow. We cannot afford to play catch up game versus experienced teams.”

Without Slaughter, Ginebra will once again rely on import Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, Japeth Aguilar, Joe Devance and rookie guard Earl Scottie Thompson.

Phoenix is going to be led by import Eugene Phelps, who had 34 points and 24 rebounds against Alaska.