TWO-TIME CHAMPS VS COMEBACK KIDS
San Mig Super Coffee and Meralco continue to fight for a better spot in the playoffs as they clash in the third to the last playdate of the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday.
The Mixers and the Bolts battle for an outright berth in the best-of-three quarterfinals as they square off at 8 p.m.
San Mig Coffee, half a game ahead of Meralco (4-4) at 4-3, keeps its slim chance for a playoff for a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarters if the Mixers top the Bolts.
So crucial is the match that the two teams are expected to gut it out every inch of the way.
“Every possession counts in this game,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
“We are gunning for our fifth win and a slot in the best of three. It is a very important game. Our mind-set is do whatever it takes to win,” Gregorio also said.
Needless to say, San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone and his chargers are also coming out with the same thing in mind.
The Mixers have fallen to fourth place after dropping three of their last four matches.
Worse, uncertain is the status of energetic forward Marc Pingris for their game against Meralco.
Pingris suffered back spasms in their last game that they lost to the San Miguel Beermen, 88-97.
Still, they are the slight favorites against the Bolts.
“We must have a good start. We bailed ourselves out of trouble against Barako Bull despite a lethargic start. But we can’t take our chances against a seasoned team. We can’t be down big and expect to win,” said Gregorio.
Meralco overcame a poor start and made an amazing effort to gobble up a big 22-point second-quarter deficit, turning back Barako Bull, 105-98.
With a solid team effort, the Bolts closed in, 73-74, at the end of the third period, finally took the lead, 78-74, at the start of the fourth and roared all the way to steal the win and improve 4-4.
“We started flat but in the game of basketball, you don’t lose in the first, second or third quarter. You just have to play until the end,” said Gregorio.
“If that’s the identity of the team being comeback kids, I don’t mind for as long as we win in the end,” Gregorio also said.
It could really be a battle as the two-time champs Mixers take on the comeback kids Mixers. (SB)
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