Kings, Bolts clash
BARANGAY Ginebra and Meralco renew their rivalry minus their respective coaches as the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup elimination round enters the homestretch at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is 6 p.m. with the Gin Kings hoping to bounce back from last Sunday’s 92-106 setback to TNT Tropang Giga and boost their hopes for a top two finish, and the Bolts gunning for their second win in seven days and improve their chances for a quarterfinal entry.
The Kings, who will play their fourth game without head coach Tim Cone, and the Bolts, who will miss the services of coach Norman Black, are expected to slug it out anew the same way they duked it out in past PBA Governors Cup tournaments.
At 6-2, Ginebra is assured of a quarterfinals tickets entry but remain in a close fight for a twice-to-beat advantage against San Miguel Beer (8-1), TNT (8-3), Blackwater (5-2), Magnolia (5-3) and even Meralco (4-3).
At 4-3, the Bolts remain in the middle of the 12-team pack and need to continue winning to enter the quarterfinals and get to the best-of-three series.
But while Ginebra suffered its first loss in three outings under interim coach Richard del Rosario against TNT, Meralco did well under substitute mentor Luigi Trillo in a 77-93 victory over Rain or Shine last July 6.
Meralco is also expected to get a boost with deputy coach Ronnie Magsanoc joining Trillo at the bench.
Magsanoc is back from his chores with Gilas Pilipinas in the recent FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup.
In the 3 p.m. curtainraiser, Blackwater Bossing battle resurgent Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
