Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Phoenix
6:45 p.m. – GlobalPort vs Ginebra
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel hopes to stay in top form despite injuries to key players while NLEX looks to continue its unbeaten start as they battle separate teams today in the resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra meets GlobalPort in the main game at 6:45 p.m. as it plays for the first time since winning on Christmas Day while NLEX plays Phoenix in the 4:30 p.m. opener that will feature an interesting family feud between Road Warriors star Kevin Alas and Fuel Masters coach Louie Alas.
NLEX is tied for the lead with defending champion San Miguel with identical 2-0 slates while Ginebra is the other team still unbeaten in the season-opening conference following its 89-78 victory Magnolia at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Ginebra returns from a two-week layoff still without the services of veterans Joe Devance and Sol Mercado and Art dela Cruz because of injuries. In fact, the Kings even placed Devance and Dela Cruz on the unrestricted free agent list to make room for John Wilson and Jericho de Guzman.
Both are expected to stay at Ginebra despite being placed in such status, but Kings coach Tim Cone hinted that Devance may miss a portion of the tournament after undergoing foot surgery shortly after last season’s Governors’ Cup title victory over the Meralco Bolts.
Mercado is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in the same finals series against Meralco while Dela Cruz, acquired from Blackwater in exchange for Chris Ellis late last season, hurt his Achilles during preseason.
Cone, however, is satisfied that he still has his main weapons in Greg Slaughter, LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson and Kevin Ferrer around as Ginebra seeks a strong start in its quest to give four-peat seeking San Miguel a run for its money.
