Ginebra, TNT KaTropa jostle for no.1
To the uninitiated, it’s nothing but a fight for placing.
For the TNT KaTropa Texters, the Barangay Ginebra Kings and their respective throngs, there’s a big overriding thing above the playoffs top seeding at stake in their faceoff at the close of the PBA Governors Cup eliminations at the Alonte Sports Center in Binan, Laguna Sunday
“I don’t think either team is going to give an inch. It could turn out to be the best non-bearing game in history,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“It’s still a crucial game for both teams,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.
For all practical purposes, both teams are actually done not just in their chase for a playoff entry but also with the twice-to-beat reward in the quarterfinals.
To be determined in their 6:45 p.m. tussle is just top seeding in the playoffs.
But then there’s also the pride being fought for in every single match between ball clubs from corporate rivals the MVP Group and San Miguel Corp.
The winner will be the elims top notcher and advances to the quarters versus the last seed which is either Rain or Shine or Phoenix Petroleum.
The E-Painters and the Fuel Masters knock each other out for the last quarters slot at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
A Ginebra triumph forges a tie at at No. 1 between the Kings and the Texters at 9-2. In that scenario, Ginebra takes playoff top seeding via the winner-over-the-other rule.
The Texters, however, will surely come out strong to avoid a quarterfinals matchup with MVP Group sister ball club NLEX.
Meanwhile, the Gin Kings are also likely to go all out to avoid a possible semifinal collision with the San Miguel Beermen.
Thus, the Texters and the Gin Kings could really figure in a fierce showdown in the final game of the single-round-robin elims.
TNT is also out to complete a coast-to-coast domination of the elims while Ginebra is out to steal the
thunder on a possible five-game closing romp.
Justin Brownlee and his Ginebra teammates have swept their last four games versus Rain or Shine, Star, Mahindra and Phoenix.
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