Games Today
(Smart Araneta)
4:15 p.m. – Globalport vs Alaska
7 p.m. – Talk ‘N Text vs NLEX
Defending champion and current leader San Miguel Beer will have company before the day is through. How many depends largely on the NLEX Road Warriors.
A four-way tie at second place will be dissolved today when three of those teams see action in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the first time games will be held at the Big Dome since Oct. 28.
SMB leads the way with a 4-1 win-loss card nearly halfway in the elimination round, with Globalport, Rain or Shine, Alaska and Talk ‘N Text locked at second on 3-1 slates.
Globalport and Alaska clash at 4:15 p.m. with the Aces’ current version of the Bruise Brothers – Vic Manuel and Calvin Abueva – taking on the Batang Pier’s ‘three-headed monster’ – Terrence Romeo, Joseph Yeo and the amazing Stanley Pringle.
Alaska is coming off a two-week rest after splitting its Dubai schedule, beating the Mahindra Enforcers, 98-94, on Nov. 6 before falling to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a disputed finish, 93-92, on Nov. 7.
The Batang Pier, meanwhile, are on a roll, having won their last three games, including the last one against Rain or Shine, 113-111, on Nov. 13 where Pringle delivered the winning drive against three snarling ROS defenders – Beau Belga, Jireh Ibanes and Raymond Almazan – just before the buzzer.
Whether Pringle can pull off the same against the Beast (Abueva) and Aces remains to be seen though.
Looking to join the winner of the Alaska-Globalport game into climbing atop the leader board is Talk ‘N Text which faces NLEX at 7 p.m.