By Jonas Terrado
Games Today
(Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
4:30 p.m. – Blackwater vs Rain or Shine
6:45 p.m. – Meralco vs Ginebra
Defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel looks to put itself in good position to claim a top four finish after the eliminations when it takes on struggling rival Meralco as action in the PBA Governors’ Cup shifts to the City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.
All but assured of gaining entry in the quarterfinals of the season-ending conference, the league-leading Kings try top to create separation from their closest pursuers and gain their seventh win in eight games in the match at 6:45 p.m.
Blackwater, buoyed by its thrilling win over Meralco two nights ago at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, seeks to keep pace with Ginebra at 4:30 p.m. as it meets a Rain or Shine still winless after three matches.
The Elite, tied for second place with the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok at 5-1, won 94-91 on Paul Zamar’s three in the dying seconds.
But fans in Northern Laguna are more eager to witness the beloved Ginebra squad that continues to pile up wins despite missing key players to injuries.
Joe Devance is scheduled to be out for three to four weeks due to a stress fracture on his left foot, but the good news for the Kings fans is that Japeth Aguilar has returned from an injured calf while Greg Slaughter may return anytime soon from a sprained ankle.
Last Friday, Ginebra placed Art dela Cruz on the active list in Friday’s 106-92 win over NLEX and coach Tim Cone is likely to call the versatile forward’s name during the contest.
Dela Cruz has been out for more than a year due to an Achilles tendon sustained while training with the national team. The former San Beda star was acquired by Ginebra late last season from Blackwater.
Aiming to spoil Ginebra’s quest is a Meralco side desperate to snap a four-game skid and stay in the hunt for the quarterfinals.
The Bolts, who are coming off a fourth place finish in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Nonthaburi, Thailand, nearly ended their slump against the Elite when they held a 74-64 lead in the fourth quarter, only to suffer a meltdown in the final minutes.
Meralco’s loss spoiled the impressive shooting of playmaker Baser Amer and an unlikely lift from seldom-used center Ken Bono, who scored all of his 10 points in the fourth quarter.
