Ginebra takes another shot for QF bonus vs Terrafirma
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel tries to once again secure the twice-to-beat advantage Monday night when it plays Terrafirma in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Ginebra is expected to enter the 6:45 p.m. match determined to atone for its disappointing showing against defending champion San Miguel Beer and end the elimination round with quarterfinal bonus.
Phoenix Super LPG hopes to boost its own bid for the twice-to-beat opposite Blackwater in the 1 p.m. curtain raiser while Alaska looks to do the same at 4 p.m. against an NLEX side aiming to stay close in the chase for the eighth and final quarters spot.
Ginebra absorbed an 81-66 loss to a weary SMB squad to fall in a share of the lead with TNT at 7-3 after a disappointing evening marred by the struggles of Stanley Pringle and LA Tenorio.
Pringle only had seven points on 3-of-10 shooting after averaging 25.3 points on a 57 percent shooting while Tenorio had no points and no assists two days following a 15-point, eight-assist effort against TNT.
The Kings will try to make amends at the expense of the Dyip, who are already eliminated from playoff contention with their 1-8 record.
Like Ginebra, Terrafirma is playing its second of a back-to-back but lost a heartbreaking 95-93 decision to Meralco.
Terrafirma rallied from a 20-point deficit to tie the game in the final minute, only for the Bolts’ Chris Newsome to score a game-winning jumper at the buzzer.
Meanwhile, NLEX is looking to make it four wins in a row and make the quarterfinal race even more complicated.
NLEX is in ninth place at 4-5, and even has a mathematical chance of sneaking a twice-to-beat in the event it wins its last two games.
Teams with six wins initially considered as likely quarterfinal entrants have suddenly faced the prospect of being booted following the Road Warriors’ surge.
One of them are the Aces, who can officially claim a quarters spot for them and three others with a win. Alaska is tied for fourth at 6-4 with Meralco, SMB and Magnolia.
Phoenix, carrying a 6-3 card, aims to at least tie TNT for second place and enhance its quest for a twice-to-beat against Blackwater.