GAMES TODAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – NorthPort vs. Ginebra
7:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs. TNT
GINEBRA and Rain or Shine show up anew at the same venue with different targets against separate but equally determined foes, hoping they will achieve those when all the dust settles.
The Kings try to wield the big broom on the embattled NorthPort Batang Pier today in Game 4 of their best-of-7 semifinals duel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 5 p.m. before the Elasto Painters seek to forge a 2-2 standoff when they face the TNT Tropang Giga also in the fourth tiff in their own Last Four collision in the nightcap at 7:30.
Coach Tim Cone’s charges clearly have pushed the Batang Pier on the brink after a 127-100 drubbing in Game 3 last Sunday night and are raring to finish off NorthPort, which topped the eliminations, only to be manhandled in the semis.
“The moments we are on the floor, we want to be locked in and playing,” Cone said. “Not get soft even through the big leagues, you’ve got to keep playing and stay disciplined. Our first group is coming out and playing well, but our second group, Jamie (Malonzo), led by Jamie and RJ (Abarrientos), is just playing great.
“The first group is good, the second group is great and they’ve been able to extend leads and really break the back of the other teams and that’s such a luxury to have. It’s a team that doesn’t step back. It moves forward and like I said, it’s a real luxury, and right now, we’re taking advantage of it,” he added.
The likes of do-it-all import Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, and Malonzo and Abarrientos will be counted upon anew by Ginebra to deliver.
Down but not out, the Batang Pier will cast their lot with reinforcement Kadeem Jack, Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, William Navarro, Fran Yu, and Evan Nelle.
“The longer it (series) takes, the better for us. Iyon lang ang chance namin siguro kasi kapag naging short series ito sa kanila na ito,” Rain or Shine tactician Yeng Guiao said after the Painters finally scored a breakthrough 103-98 decision in Game 3.
Rising star Adrian Nocum echoed Guiao’s sentiments, saying: “Iyong decision-making namin sa endgame in the first two games, iyong ang naging problema. Nagawan namin ng paraan iyon kaya nanalo kami (Game 3), maganda iyong decision-making namin noong end game.”
Nocum will combine with import Deon Thompson and fellow locals Leonard Santillan, Anton Asistio, Caelan Tiongson, Jhonard Clarito, and Gian Mamuyac.
For TNT, which lost battle-scared court general Jayson Castro due to a season-ending right knee injury, Rey Nambatac should step up along with Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, JP Erram, Kelly Williams, and two-time best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
A finals stint anew for the Kings? A tied series? The answers will be known at night’s end.
