Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs Columbian
6:45 p.m. – Meralco vs San Miguel
GRAND SLAM-SEEKING San Miguel Beer seeks a quarterfinals berth while Meralco tries to keep its firm grip on fourth spot when they square off in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen and Bolts meet in the second game at 6:45 p.m. as the two squads look to stay in the top four in order to enhance their playoff chances in the season-ending conference.
San Miguel is currently in third place with a 5-2 record after falling short against NorthPort, 127-119, last Wednesday while Meralco is in fourth at four wins and two defeats, playing its first game since defeating Blackwater, 99-94, nine days ago.
Columbian and defending champion Magnolia meet in the 4:30 p.m. opener that also has implications in the race for the remaining six quarterfinal slots.
The Dyip play their second game in three days after a 106-104 triumph over the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters while the Hotshots hope to end a three-game slide that included a 105-83 defeat to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Sunday.
Getting a win will boost the bid of Columbian (4-4) to enter the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 Governors’ Cup while Magnolia (3-4) is keen on avoiding the danger zone.
Expected to carry the load for San Miguel and Meralco are Dez Wells and Allen Durham in a battle of one of the finest import debutants against one of veteran reinforcements left in the tournament.
Wells is coming off a 56-point explosion that went for naught as the Beermen were defeated by former teammate Christian Standhardinger and the Batang Pier.
His second 50-point output enabled Wells to raise his scoring average of 39.9 – tops among imports – with 8.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Durham, named Best Import in the 2016 and 2017 Governors’ Cup, remains a key figure for the Bolts with averages of 29.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks.
Meralco will parade new player Allein Maliksi and Raymar Jose, who were acquired from Blackwater in exchange for veteran KG Canaleta, third-year guard Mike Tolomia and two future second round draft picks. (Jonas Terrado)
Team Standings W L
X-TNT KaTropa 7 1
X-NLEX 6 1
San Miguel 5 2
Meralco 4 2
Ginebra* 3 2
Columbian 4 4
Magnolia 3 4
NorthPort 3 4
Blackwater* 2 5
Rain or Shine* 2 5
Phoenix Pulse 2 6
Alaska* 1 6
X-clinched quarterfinals berth
*-playing at presstime
