By Jonas Terrado
Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Blackwater
vs Magnolia*
7 p.m. – Ginebra* vs NLEX
(*twice-to-beat advantage)
Defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia look to arrange a semifinal showdown as they attempt to make short work of their rivals today in the start of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra tries to live up to its billing as the top-ranked team of the playoffs when it takes on eighth seed NLEX in the main game at 7 p.m. after No. 4 Magnolia seeks to end the dream run of No. 5 Blackwater at 4:30 p.m.
Both armed with the twice-to-beat advantage, Ginebra and Magnolia are eyeing their first semifinal duel since last year’s Philippine Cup when the Kings beat the then-Star Hotshots in seven games.
Despite topping the elimination round at 9-2, Ginebra downplayed its chances of an easy route toward a third consecutive title in the season-ending tournament.
Coach Tim Cone had described having the top spot in the playoffs as only “pogi points.”
“I’m not sure exactly how it’s gonna be but I’m sure it’s gonna be tough, even tougher than the previous two championship runs,” said Ginebra import Justin Brownlee.
The Kings’ chances of easily advancing to the semis bodes well with Greg Slaughter apparently regaining his full form after scoring 25 points in Sunday’s 112-93 romp of TNT KaTropa at the Big Dome.
Slaughter played the last two games of the elims after injuring his ankle in early-September.
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, meanwhile, hopes to see his team avoid elimination despite ending the elimination phase having lost four of its final five matches.
Meanwhile, Magnolia carries a psychological edge over Blackwater after cruising to a 133-99 win in the elims.
The Hotshots will bank on import Romeo Travis, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca in their bid to make the semis for the fifth time in six conferences under coach Chito Victolero.
Blackwater, on the other hand, enters the playoffs with a low morale when it blew a chance at a twice-to-beat edge by dropping three of the final four games.
On Sunday, the Elite fell 97-91 to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, leaving import Henry Walker to lament on the wasted opportunity.
“We wasted four months of work, four months of preparation,” Walker said. “We wasted a great conference to go out there and lay a dud in the end.”
Blackwater started the conference with four straight victories before losing steam when it mattered. All is not lost as far as coach Bong Ramos is concerned, saying the Elite will have to intensify their defensive mentality against the Hotshots.
