By REYNALD MAGALLON
Ginebra will try to chase sister team San Miguel Beer when it tangles with the still winless Terrafirma while Rain or Shine and Meralco are determined to snap their respective slides when they clash Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts will be without head coach Norman Black when they try to arrest their two-game losing streak against the E-Painters who are on a five-game slide in the opening game at 3 p.m. before the Gin Kings battle the lowly Dyip in the main event at 6 p.m.
Stand-in coach Richard Del Rosario and his Gin Kings (5-1) aim to build a win streak even without Tim Cone and catch Beermen (6-1) atop the standings.
With Stanley Pringle’s return, although is still in a minute restriction, Ginebra added another offensive arsenal to join the already potent crew that has Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger.
The Dyip (0-6), though, are determined to pull off a shocker against the mighty Kings and finally record their first win in the season.
Desperate to pump some life to their dwindling playoff hopes, Joshua Munzon and Juami Tiongson are expected to double their effort to snap their current six-game losing streak.
Meralco assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc is tasked to call the shots in place of Black who went on an indefinite leave to attend to an ailing mother in the US.
Big shoes to fill in for the long-time Bolts deputy, however, especially right now that his team needs to get back on the winning track if they wish to keep pace with the top teams heading into the second half of the eliminations.
The Bolts (3-3) have been struggling of late, first losing to NLEX in a blowout 90-75 fashion before bowing to Blackwater, 90-89 on a late floater from former player in Baser Amer.
A huge part of that skid was the dip in the performance of Aaron Black who even went scoreless against the Bossing.
Meralco needs Black to regain his touch and join hands with Chris Newsome and Bong Quinto if they are to beat Rain or Shine.
The young guns of coach Chris Gavina have been carrying the first for the struggling Rain or Shine as guys like Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan and Mike Nieto provided solid contributions in the team’s last two losses against current league leaders TNT Katropa and San Miguel Beer.
Rain or Shine only lost by four against TNT, 89-85 and only collapsed towards the end game versus San Miguel, 99-93.
Despite the woes, that should be a welcome sight for Rain or Shine as it hopes to snatch some win and move up from the bottom of the standings.
