-
-
-
SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
-
-
-
-
04
-
26
-
2024
-
SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
Alaska Milk and Globalport fight for a piece of seventh place as they clash in a crucial setto in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Wednesday night.
The Aces and the Batang Pier, currently tied at ninth place at 3-5, break their logjam in their 7 p.m. tussle with the winner moving up to joint seventh with the NLEX Road Warriors and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4-5.
It’s a virtual knockout game with the loser fading away further outside the Top Eight – the magic number that will advance to the playoffs.
“We are both fighting for life. So it’s really a like a playoff battle already,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
“We’re not used to where we are right now. But I can remember very well Rain or Shine last conference. They were 1-4 but then got a good finish ironically against us. Hopefully, we can do what they were able to do,” Compton also said.
But for sure, Globalport won’t be an easy assignment for Alaska.
The Batang Pier had gone on a three-game streak before being stopped the last time out by the TNT KaTropa Texters.
The Texters barely escaped, 122-120, in a high-scoring duel.
Stanley Pringle made incredible plays to give Globalport a chance to steal the game only to throw away their most important possession, allowing TNT to escape through.
The Batang Pier fought back from a 24-point deficit early in the second quarter and from 11 points down in the last three minutes but bungled a chance to win on an errant pass by Pringle to Jay Washington with time down to 2.2 seconds.
Before that, the Batang Pier strung up successive victories over the Meralco Bolts, the San Miguel Beermen, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
And the Batang Pier have since further bolstered their backcourt rotation with their acquisition of Mike Cortez in exchange for Ronald Pascual.
Mike Glover, Terrence Romeo and Pringle, however, will likely still be Alaska’s main concerns.
The Aces are fighting to survive and stay in the hunt for another title shot. They were finalists in four of the last five PBA tourneys.
Follow Us
Other Stories:
Recent Stories:
Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.