DEFENDING champion Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer clash in an all-important showdown that could boost their drive for the magic circle in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings are currently sitting at No. 4 with a 4-2 win-loss record, while the Beermen are tied for sixth to seventh places withTNT with even 3-3 slates.

That makes Friday’s 8 p.m. encounter between the Kings and the Beermen a must-win in their bid to secure a Top 4 finish in the single-round-robin eliminations and the twice-to-beat incentive that comes with it in the quarterfinals.

Both the Kings and the Beermen are hoping to get back into the winning track following losses in their previous assignments.

The Tim Cone-coached Kings were stunned by the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 77-82, in an out-of-town game in San Jose, Batangas last Saturday.

The Beermen of coach Jorge Gallent suffered back-to-back losses to NorthPort, 101-115 and Magnolia, 90-94 as they continue to struggle minus injury-hit players June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo, Vic Manuel and Jeron Teng.

Imports Tony Bishop of Ginebra and Ivan Aska of San Miguel are again expected to lead their respective teams back in the hunt for the quarterfinal bonus.

Magnolia ChikcenTimplados and Phoenix are currently sitting pretty in the top two positions with 7-0 and 6-1 records, respectively.

Meralco Bolts are also not too far behind at 5-1, followed by NorthPort Batang Pier at 5-3.

In the 4 p.m. curtainraiser, TNT Tropang Giga battle Blackwater Elite.

The 3-3 Tropanng Giga are looking for a fitting follow-up to their smashing, come-from-behind 113-97 victory over NLEX at the Philsports Arena last Wednesday.

TNT will again rely on the duo of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Calvin Oftana against struggling Blackwater.

Hollis-Jefferson finished with 33 points and 15 rebounds while Oftana added 29 points highlighted by five triples as the Tropang Giga rallied from as much as 22-point third-quarfter deficit to frustrate the Road Warriors and new trade acquisition, Robert Bolick.

Bolick struggled with 2-of-8 shooting and finished with only eight points in his first game for NLEX since being traded by NorthPort in a blockbuster three-team trade last week.

The TNT victory also spoiled the memorable night of Asi Taulava, who was given a fitting retiremenrt ceremony after 24 long years.

Taulawa, the 50-year-old Fil-Tongan was with his entire family during the retirement ceremony.

The Bossing, on the other hand, are determined to put an end to their six-game losing skid that put them at the tailend of the 12-team standings.

Games Friday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Blackwater vs. TNT
8 p.m.– San Miguel vs. Ginebra

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya