TIM Cone, whose name surfaced as a possible candidate to become the next coach of Gilas Pilipinas, tries to give Barangay Ginebra San Miguel a winning start to its PBA Governors’ Cup campaign against Alaska at the Smart araneta Coliseum.
Cone is focused on getting the task at hand for the Kings in the 6:45 p.m. match against former pupil Jeffrey Cariaso and the Aces, after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas mentioned the PBA’s winningest coach as a possible successor to Yeng Guiao on Thursday.
SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan earlier said that the possibility would hinge on whether Cone and his bosses at San Miguel Corporation can agree on such possibility.
For now, however, Cone is aiming to put Ginebra back on the winner’s podium and cap off a season of shortcomings.
The Kings were booted out of the quarterfinals by Magnolia in the Philippine Cup before being dispatched by TNT KaTropa in the semifinals of the Commissioner’s Cup.
Justin Brownlee is back for another tour of duty as Ginebra’s resident import while Greg Slaughter is eager to produce a better showing after his struggles in the past conferences.
Alaska, meanwhile, aims to bounce back from a 117-110 loss to Columbian in Friday’s conference opener that spoiled Cariaso’s coaching debut with the team he played for from 1996 and 2004 to 2010 with Cone at the helm.
Import Justin Watts and newly-acquired rookie Abu Tratter played well for the Aces but it was not enough to topple the Dyip.
The Aces also set to play without veteran center Noy Baclao, who suffered a suspected rupture on his right patellar tendon during a bad fall in the fourth quarter.
Baclao underwent MRI Saturday, though there’s a likelihood that Baclao will undergo surgery.
Columbian shoots for win No. 2 and the early lead against Rain or Shine in the 4:30 p.m. opener.
The Dyip are banking on import Khapri Alston and rookie CJ Perez to post the best start in franchise history while the Elasto Painters are aiming to bounce back from a 99-94 loss to the NorthPort Batang Pier. (JONAS TERRADO)
BIG DISCOUNTS
FOR PBA PATRONS
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is offering a 50 percent ticket discount to its patrons for the entire elimination round of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup.
The special promo takes effect on Sept. 25 and valid on all regular games on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo and the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
PBA patrons can avail of the promo by simply presenting proof of purchase of any of the PBA’s 12 teams at the PBA promo booth where the games are played.
The proof of purchase include four packs of Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink or Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink, two bottles of Blackwater Fragrance, minimum P250 worth of Dyip Ko Shuttle tickets, five seals of GSM products, minimum P250 worth of any Magnolia chicken products, proof of Meralco bill payment, P250 worth of NLEX/SLEX tollgate receipts, one used Air Asia boarding pass or e-ticket confirmation, P250 worth of Phoenix Petroleum products, eight crowns of SMB products and one unused Smart/TNT/Sun prepaid card or minimum P150 worth of e-load.
One proof of purchase shall entitle a customer one coupon and present it at the designated ticket counters at Smart Araneta Coliseum (Yellow Gate), Ynares Center Antipolo (Main Gate) and Cuneta Astrodome (Main Gate) to avail of discounted tickets.
