Barangay Ginebra San Miguel guns for its second victory and a share of the early lead against winless Phoenix Pulse in the PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings aim to keep their form after dominating the Alaska Aces last weekend and beat the struggling Fuel Masters in the second game of the Petron Saturday Special set at 6:45 p.m.
TNT, behind import KJ McDaniels, likewise eyes win No. 2 opposite Rain or Shine in the 4:30 p.m. opener.
The game marks the first time since coach Tim Cone named six Ginebra players to the 15-man pool for the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games in late-November.
Selected in the pool were LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Stanley Pringle and Art dela Cruz as Cone wanted to have his core players who are familiar with his system.
While the SEA Games stint is on the horizon, Cone and company are also focused on trying to end the season with a championship, something Ginebra failed to accomplish in the previous two conferences.
Import Justin Brownlee is expected to carry the bulk of production for Ginebra after posting 30 points and 22 rebounds in the 102-83 romp of Alaska last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Phoenix tries to get out of an early slump after dropping its opening two matches against NLEX (123-116) and San Miguel Beer.
Coach Louie Alas will lean on import Eugene Phelps and Matthew Wright to prevent the Fuel Masters from falling further in the standings.
Phoenix has spent its last two practices with suspended cager Calvin Abueva, who was allowed by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial to participate in the team’s daily suspensions.
Abueva, however, remains banned until the league sees that the star forward has completely mended his ways. (Jonas Terrado)
