Games Today
(Ynares Center, Antipolo)
4:15 p.m. – Blackwater vs Phoenix
7 p.m. – Alaska vs Globalport
Newcomer Phoenix Fuel shoots for win No. 5 as it tries to inch closer to advancing to a first-ever quarterfinal playoff berth when it clashes against struggling Blackwater in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup today at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
At the moment, the Fuel Masters occupy sixth spot with a 4-4 win-loss record, on track to making it to the playoffs with the top eight teams after the elimination moving on to the next round.
The game is set at 4:15 p.m., while Alaska and Globalport test each other’s mettle at 7 p.m. as the two try to improve their respective playoff chances.
Both the Aces and the Batang Pier sport 3-5 records, locked at ninth and 10th in the standings. The two, however, had different results when they last played a week ago.
Globalport fell short on its comeback attempt as it dropped a 122-120 defeat to league-leader TNT KaTropa last Wednesday, while Alaska had a dominating 107-87 win over Blackwater last Aug. 28.
As for Phoenix, the team of coach Ariel Vanguardia is fresh from a 106-93 win against Star last Sunday, where import Eugene Phelps exploded for 45 points with 17 rebounds in nearly 44 minutes of action.
Varguardia said that keeping the energy and intensity high is crucial for them.
“We expect a tough game; wala namang madali sa PBA e. Lahat kailangang pagtrabahuhan, lahat kailangang paghirapan.
So we know it’s going to be a tough game,” said Vanguardia.
Blackwater will parade a new import in Keala King, who will take the place of the injured Eric Dawson.
According to team manager Johnson Martinez, King, who arrived in the country August 31, is fresh from a stint in Thailand Basketball League (TBL) playing for the HiTech Bangkok.