GAMES TODAY
(PhilSports Arena, Pasig)
5 p.m. – Converge vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. – NorthPort vs. Ginebra
THE four combatants today, Wednesday, are coming off contrasting fates—Ginebra and NorthPort from disappointing losses and Converge and Rain or Shine from morale-boosting wins.
Who will succeed in their respective missions will be known when they part ways in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Kings take on the Batang Pier in the 7:30 p.m. main battle after the FiberXers meet the Elasto Painters at 5 o’clock.
Converge interim coach Franco Atienza admitted his charges will go into the duel motivated to get one over their tormentors in the last Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
“Against Rain or Shine, iyon ang team na nag-knockout sa amin sa quarterfinals last conference and pareho din namin. Mabilis. Mga bata. Mga tumatakbo. Tira nang tira ng three-points,” Atienza said. “So, medyo hawig. Malaking bagay ito. We get this string of wins, medyo nasa gitna na tayo. As of now, kalahati na nga kami.
“I think five games na yata, if I’m not mistaken and magandang pondo iyon going into the latter stretch of our campaign. So, hopefully we pass another difficult test today. We will prepare for that for sure,” he added.
Adding confidence to the FiberXers was a 100-94 victory over TNT last Sunday that hiked their mark to 3-2 in the season-ending tourney.
The likes of Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Schonny Winston, Alec Stockton, and veteran Kevin Racal are expected to banner Converge’s attack.
“Masakit nga sa amin iyong noong na-knockout kami sa quarterfinals. So, kailangan namin bawian ito,” Baltazar said. “Kung ano man magiging preparation ng mga coaches, so iyon, stick lang kami doon siguro.”
The Painters are not lacking in motivation.
Rain or Shine stunned defending champion with a relentless assault that jolted the Bolts 128-116 also last Sunday despite missing big men Beau Belga (vertigo), Caelan Tiongson (back spasms), and Keith Datu (calf).
The Yeng Guiao-mentored Rain or Shine quintet will pin its hopes on Leonard Santillan, Adrian Nocum, Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, and Gabe Norwood.
Ginebra fell to San Miguel Beer (93-104) and NorthPort to Blackwater (98-120) both Friday last week.
One squad will rise while the other will fall anew, making the pair of matches a can’t-miss.
