By REYNALD MAGALLON
It’s a clash between two of the hottest teams in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup as Phoenix and Barangay Ginebra lock horns in the league’s second out-of-town game at the brand new Fernando Poe Jr. Arena in San Jose, Batangas on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Tip-off of the huge collision is at 6:15 p.m. with the Fuel Masters out to test their mettle against the defending champions Kings and prove that their fiery four-game winning streak is no fluke.
Phoenix has emerged as one of the season’s few surprises as head coach Jamike Jarin turned the usual midtier team into a crew looking like a legitimate title contender after a 5-1 start to the conference.
The strong performance early in the conference is largely due to the steady presence of import Johnathan Williams along with young guns Ricci Rivero, Ken Tuffin and even team leaders Tyler Tio, Javee Mocon and Player of the Week Jayson Perkins.
Out to put a stop to the Fuel Masters’ run however are the Kings whose returning veteran guard LA Tenorio, a proud Batangueño and native of Nasugbu, will have his homecoming of sorts in Batangas before an expected huge crowd.
With Tenorio’s return providing the inspiration to the rest of his teammates, the triple towers of Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar and import Tony Bishop dominated the paint to lead Ginebra to its third-straight win with a 110-99 win over Terrafirma.
Tenorio came back after a nine-months absence while he was undergoing treatment for stage 3 colon cancer.
The three along with Maverick Ahanmisi are expected to put up the same showing in the contest especially that the Tim Cone-mentored squad is missing the services of the star guard Scottie Thompson.
Thompson sat out the game against the Dyip after sustaining a leg injury that is expected to sideline him for two to three weeks .
