Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 78
KINGS, BOLTS BREAK TIES IN CRUCIAL FACEOFF
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
Barangay Ginebra and Meralco break off their tie at third place as they fight to stay in the race for the Top Two in what could be a Sunday thriller of an encounter in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Forget Mark Caguioa and Kerby Raymundo still being doubtful starters for Ginebra.
Minus the two, the Kings roared on Wednesday, pulling off a fifth straight victory with a 90-84 thumping of the Air21 Express.
The Ginebra-Meralco match has become a virtual playoff match as the Bolts caught up with the Kings two nights later on their 102-92 drubbing of the Petron Blaze Boosters.
The Kings and the Bolts play at 6:30 p.m. with the winner keeping a slim chance of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
“Malabo pa rin yung dalawa (Caguioa and Raymundo) but I’m sure we’ll be coming out fighting,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.
“We are playing the hottest team in the league. It is an amazing streak considering that Caguioa is not even playing,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
“We acknowledge the fact that stopping a rampaging Ginebra team is no easy feat, but definitely workable,” Gregorio added. “(LA) Tenorio is running the show, so he must be shackled while Vernon Macklin’s dominance in the shaded lane must be addressed.”
Both teams are on a streak with the Bolts winning their last two games versus the Globalport Batang Pier and the Boosters.
Eric Dawson erupted for a nine-year league-high of 57 points in a megavolt performance powering Meralco past Petron Blaze and into joint third place with the Ginebra Kings and the Boosters at 6-5.
Dawson was a tremendous source of power and energy for the Bolts Friday, bulldozing his way to 20 field-goal conversions and 17 charities in the most productive showing by any player in the league since Derek Brown put in the same output in a game with Sta. Lucia Realty in 2004.
“I’m always inspired while on the court. Our intensity was the big difference in the game,” said Dawson after a career-high game, priming himself up for his anticipated battle with Macklin.
The question is how will Meralco come out with just a day preparation for Ginebra.
“One-day preparation after our Friday game is a challenge since Ginebra is coming off a rest. While our victory against Petron generated an enormous confidence boost, tremendous effort must be rendered if we want to follow it up with a victory against the Gin Kings,” said Gregorio.
“Obvious that our offense has been in sync the past two games. We’ve hit the 100-point mark in those games. But against Ginebra, defense will be the key,” Gregorio added.
The Kings topped the Bolts, 84-81, in their previous tiff on March 22. (SB)
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
