Christmas Day duel between Ginebra, Star next up
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Every Barangay Ginebra-Star duel is so special that it has earned the now famous label “the Manila Classico.”
It certainly becomes a lot more special with the duel being played on Christmas Day.
The Gin Kings and the Hotshots clash in the mainer of the 2016 PBA Christmas Day extravaganza at the Philippine Arena, with both squad pushing their playoff aspirations.
“Christmas Day games are always difficult to play because of all the distractions that go on, but there is a lot of honor in playing the game as well. We’re blessed to have this opportunity,” said Ginebra
coach Tim Cone.
“Add to the fact that it is the Manila Classico and being held at the Philippine Arena, it makes this year’s edition specially exciting. It would be great to reward our fans with our best effort and finish the
year with a win,” Cone added.
Now the biggest attraction in the league, the Ginebra-Star matchup is likely to draw a mammoth crowd as it banners a card that also features Blackwater versus Mahindra.
The Hotshots have found a good rhythm with new guards Paul Lee and Jio Jalalon, and they ride the momentum of a three-game run as they try to move up to joint second place at 4-2.
Going to the match, Star shares fifth place with GlobalPort at 3-2, a full game behind San Miguel Beer at 4-1 and half-game adrift Blackwater, Rain or Shine and TNT KaTropa at 4-2.
The Kings, meanwhile, hope to be steady and consistent to check a rollercoaster, up-and-down ride.
“Needless to say, we’ll have to keep down our turnovers, something we haven’t been able to do so far,” said Cone whose team is outside the Magic Eight at the moment at 2-3.
They suffered a severe beating at the hands of Alaska Milk, 86-101, the last time out. As the Aces broke the game wide open in the third, Cone just stayed on the bench with his core players throughout the
fourth quarter, obviously already preparing for this Christmas Day setto.
The Hotshots, meanwhile, have been on a hot run, steamrolling past the NLEX Road Warriors (99-75), the Phoenix Fuel Masters (123-79) and the ROS Elasto Painters (99-91). That came after they dropped their first
two games in the season versus San Miguel Beer (88-96) and GlobalPort (84-91).
“Tiwala na kami sa system ni coach. I think that’s the biggest thing,” said Paul Lee, the new main man of the Hotshots under coach Chito Victolero.
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