Lucky 7 at stake
LUCKY seven will be at stake when Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort clash in a crucial encounter in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup this Suat the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time 6:30 p.m. with the winner of the Kings-Batang Pier encounter securing the all-important Win No. 7 and a coveted spot in the Top Four
At 6-3 win-loss, Ginebra currently shares third to fourth places with sister team San Miguel Beer.
NorthPort, on the other hand, sits in sixth place at 6-4, only half a game behind in the overall standings.
The top three teams at the moment are the Magnolia Hotshots (9-1), Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (7-2), and Meralco Bolts (6-2).
NorthPort and Coach Bonnie Tan are fresh from their 106-89 victory over the Blackwater Bossing last Friday.
The game against Ginebra will be their final game in the elimination round.
The Kings, for their part, wrapped up 2023 on a positive note by posting back-to-back wins, which included a hard-fought triumph over the TNT Tropang Giga. They maintained their position at joint fourth with the Beermen.
Meanwhile, the Batang Pier continued to closely trail the Kings and the Beermen, with their impressive start in 2024.
NorthPort is likely to carry the momentum following their convincing 17-point victory over Blackwater, fueled by stellar performances from Munzon, import Venky Jois, and Paul Zamar.
“We’re on the right track” said Tan, who steered NorthPort back to the Last-8 after its early ouster in the Season 47 Governors’ Cup.
“It was a crucial game in terms of placing. Now we have to win our next game against Ginebra to get a better position,” he added.
“It feels good to start the year off with a win and build momentum going to the playoffs,” said Joshua Munzon, the key player in their win over Blackwater.
On the Kings’ side, a potential concern is their readiness, having had a 13-day break.
However, Coach Tim Cone, with his extensive experience, is well-versed in handling such situations and is fully aware of his team’s responsibilities.
Cone boasts a much deeper bench, with key players such as Tony Bishop, Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, and Japeth Aguilar at his disposal.
In the 3 p.m. first game, San Miguel Beer battles Terrafirma.
The Beermen are heavuly favored to win againt when they they face a Terrafirma crew with limited aspirations.
“Our goal is to get to that top four, and I think we’re closing in on that,” said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent following the Phoenix game, repeating what he has stated in previous wins over Barangay Ginebra and TNT.
Gallent is satisfied with the performance of his new import, Bennie Boatwright.
“The only difference between Ivan and Bennie is that Bennie has (Aska) a three-point shot, which makes the floor bigger for everybody,” Said Gallent.
“So I think it’s gonna be hard for them to chase Bennie or challenge his shots. Bennie read the situations well today.”
Terrafirma holds a dismal 2-7 record.
The Dyip have been eliminated from contention following Rain or Shine’s 119-112 victory over TNT last Friday.