Gin Kings brace for ‘big game’ vs Bolts
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is keeping its eyes on the twice-to-beat bonus heading into the playoff round while Blackwater shoots for a quarterfinal slot, when they collide against separate foes tonight in Season 43 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
The Gin Kings will be gunning for their seventh win in eight games when they battle Meralco at 6:45 p.m. while the Elite face Rain or Shine in the 4:30 p.m. first game.
“We know that Meralco is going to be gunning for us, and we have some great, great rivalry over the last couple of years in this particular conference so it is going to be really a big game on Sunday,” said coach Tim Cone after Ginebra’s 106-92 win over Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Friday that earned them a quarterfinals slot.
Veteran Mark Caguioa (47) of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel dribbles against NLEX’s Kevin Ighalo on Friday in Season 43 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. Caguioa, now playing for 16 seasons, has joined the 10,000-point club after finishing with 16 points in that game. PBA MEDIA BUREAU PHOTO
The 7-footer Greg Slaughter, Sol Mercado, and the do-it-all import Justin Brownlee have ensured the Gin Kings’s survival in the past few games while its other key players were sidelined by injury.
The recuperated Japeth Aguilar scored 17 points, while 16-year veteran Mark Caguioa joined the elite 10,000 point-club by finishing with 16 points in their win against NLEX.
Meralco (1-4 win-loss record) is going to rely anew on import Allen Durham who is averaging 24.7 points, 17.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists in five games.
Blackwater, meanwhile, is coming from a slim 94-91 win over Meralco on Friday behind the three-point shot of Paul Zamar. The Elite, at 5-1 win-loss record, are hoping for a huge win over the winless Elasto Painters (0-3 win-loss record) to ascend to No. 2 and claim a quarterfinal berth.
“If it comes from the lord, who can stop that? To God be the glory,” said Elite coach Bong Ramos, who is hoping that center JP Erram would be available to play against Rain or Shine after missing back-to-back games because of viral infection. “Erram is day-to-day basis and hopefully he can play on Sunday.”
Rain or Shine, on the other hand, is keen to stop a three-game losing skid.
JOSEF T. RAMOS
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