GINEBRA is not lacking motivation to hand defending champion San Miguel Beer its first loss of the season-ending tourney.
But that’s just easier said than done, according to Kings coach Tim Cone, describing their foes as nearly invincible.
“They’re playing right now at a level that they don’t look beatable,” Cone said. “We’ll see what we can do.”
Beermen counterpart Jorge Gallent refused to feel giddy about his charges’ chances and insisted they need their A-Game.
“We will be ready against Ginebra. They’re one of the strongest teams here so we just have to be prepared against them and be consistent,” Gallent said. “We have to give our 48 minutes of energy for us to have a chance of beating them.”
SMB seeks a fourth straight win when it squares off with Ginebra today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 7:30 p.m. after TNT clashes with NorthPort in the curtain-raiser at 4:30.
The Beermen have won their first three games in the import-less tilt, counting a 116-102 shellacking of the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Easter Sunday.
The likes of reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Don Trollano will be counted upon by SMB to deliver anew.
Like the Beermen, the Kings will also go into the duel on a high, having scored an 87-77 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots in their “Manila Clasico” tiff also last Sunday.
Still without former MVP Scottie Thompson (back), Cone will pin his hopes on Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Stanley Pringle, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Christian Standhardinger in their bid to raise their 3-1 mark.
“It’s gonna be tough. NorthPort is well-constructed, balanced, athletic, and long,” Tropang Giga tactician Chot Reyes said. “It’s a very well-coached team that’s deep and leads the league in offense.”
TNT is aching to recover from a numbing 89-91 loss to SMB last March 17 that dropped the Tropang Giga to 2-2.
Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy, and Kelly Williams are expected to show the way for TNT.
Batang Pier strategist Bonnie Tan is hoping his wards remain sharp after the long All-Star and Holy Week break.
“Maganda naman ang prina-practice ng mga bata, pero siyempre iba ang actual game. Sana nasa timing pa rin sila and iyong confidence level sana nandoon pa rin,” Tan said. “Kailangan namin talaga na everybody on board kasi we need to defend TNT’s main weapons, lalo na sila (Calvin) Oftana, (Jayson) Castro, (Roger) Pogoy.
“Kung ano lang ang nasa harapan naming doon lang muna kami nakatutok para hindi naman ma-pressure lalo ang mga bata.”
NorthPort turned back Meralco 90-85 last March 10 and improved its record to 3-1.
The Batang Pier will rely on Arvin Tolentino, Cade Flores, JM Calma, Joshua Munzon, Paul Zamar, Zavier Lucero, and the returning Will Navarro, who sat out their last two outings due to flu-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, pro league chief Willie Marcial has meted a one-game suspension and a P20,000 fine on Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva for flashing the middle finger to a fan.
“Calvin Abueva sinuspende ko ng one game. One game suspension at P20,000 fine,” Marcial said.
“Kapag inulit niya pa iyon, sabi ko dadagdagan ko iyong suspension niya, dadagdagan ko iyong fine niya. Sabi niya hindi niya na uulitin pa iyon. Pero tingnan natin.”
The mercurial forward was caught on television flashing an obscene gesture to a fan at ringside late in the opening period of the Ginebra-Magnolia match last Sunday.
Abueva said the fan said something offensive against him and tried to get his ire, prompting him to flash the dirty finger.
