TNT unleashes Parks in key duel vs Ginebra
(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Columbian Dyip vs Meralco 7 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Barangay Ginebra
TNT KaTropa let loose trade acquisition Ray Parks as they gun for a bounce-back and a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals against Barangay Ginebra tonight in a marquee PBA Governors’ Cup slugfest at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The KaTropa (7-1) traded to get Parks on board after absorbing their first loss of the tournament last week, and coach Bong Ravena said they expect the rookie sensation to play a big role from hereon.
“We’re excited to see how we play (with Parks). Ray is going to be good for us. It’s more about how we play as a team, though,” said Ravena whose team gave up Don Trollano and Tony Semerad in exchange for Parks.
Coming off a 113-126 defeat at the hands of red-hot NLEX and not-so-impressive victories prior to that, Ravena underscored the need to play with urgency and with the same workrate that made them successful early on.
“We have to go back to being the team that outhustles our opponents,” said the TNT mentor, whose team will have to do this without the injury-hit Jayson Castro (soleus muscle strain).
The Gin Kings, who conceded an embarrassing 77-101 setback to Meralco to drop to fifth, carry the same objective in the 7 p.m. encounter.
“As hard as it is to do, we must put our Meralco game behind us and move forward. We can’t afford not to have our total focus on our TNT game. They are just too good. We need to have our A-game ready when we meet at center court,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
In the first game, the Bolts (6-2) look to stretch their streak to five and move closer to a playoffs incentive when they face seventh running Columbian Dyip (4-5) at 4:30 p.m.
Notes: With injured Dez Wells showing little signs of recovery, San Miguel decided to bring in NBA veteran John Holland as the Beermen pursue chase of the final jewel to a possible grand slam.