Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 78
TARGET: 3-0 & SOLO LEAD
Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 153
Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236
Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239
Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688
Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730
It isn’t Friday the 13th but ghosts and goblins will be lurking somewhere nonetheless, looking for an ambitious victim to claim in the PBA Philippine Cup on the eve of Halloween.
Before night falls Friday, either the Alaska Aces or the Meralco Bolts, both unbeaten and both eyeing solo leadership, will be lying in ruin, their defeated form carried off by the screeching spectres to the Netherworld.
They clash at 4:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the Aces looking to add the Bolts to an impressive array of conquests following victories over Purefoods Star and Talk ‘N Text, the consensus big guns in the tournament.
Norman Black, the Meralco coach, knows the caliber of the team they are up against.
“Alaska has shown its strength by taking out those two teams so this will be our biggest challenge so far this conference,” said Black. “The keys are we have to do a good job against their pressure defense and we must control our defensive rebounds.”
Black also singled out one Aces player to be the focus of the Bolts’ attention.
“Keeping Calvin [Abueva] off the offensive boards will be important,” said Black.
The Tropang Texters took their eyes off the former San Sebastian dervish on Wednesday and paid a terrible price.
Abueva torched the Texters with 22 points and hung 26 rebounds around their necks. Worse, he burned rubber in a dying-second fast break play and beat the buzzer with a floater from up close to lift Alaska past TNT, 100-98, after falling behind by 18 points.
The Bolts went through a wringer in their first two games, needing two overtimes to put away Barako Bull and a third extra period to subdue newcomer Blackwater, 83-75. Meralco can’t ill afford any form of power shortage against an efficiently organized team like Aces, now run like a machine by coach Alex Compton.
The winner will break away from a three-way tie with San Miguel Beer.
Bannering Alaska aside from Abueva are Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio, Dondon Hontiveros and Jvee Casio, all responding positively to a less structured offensive system that has allowed them to improvise every one and then.
For Meralco, on the other hand, will be Cliff Hodge, Sean Anthony, Mike Cortez, Jared Dillinger, Gary David, Rey Guevarra and the veteran Danny Ildefonso. (WJRHT)
Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254
Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280
Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318
Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328
Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442
Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459
Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475
Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481
Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490
Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525
Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538
Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543
Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555
Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578
Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585
Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595
Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600
Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609
Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664
Warning: Undefined array key "test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 802
EDITORS' PICK
Warning: Undefined variable $data_for_HompageFG_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 816
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 819
Warning: Undefined variable $MR_data_for_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239