STREAKING KINGS EYE REPEAT OVER SLUMPING MIXERS
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, making an impression in the early goings of the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup as the team to beat, returns from the holiday break on Sunday, taking on slumping Governors’ Cup titleholder San Mig Super Coffee at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ginebra mauled San Mig Coffee, 86-68, in the season inaugural at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 17, and the Kings are fancied to repeat with the confidence and momentum built on their 9-1 win-loss showing through the 2013 stretch of the all-Filipino tourney.
The Kings are hot on a six-game streak.
And not a few now consider Ginebra a cinch for the top spot in the elims, leaving Petron Blaze, Rain or Shine and Talk n Text in a wild battle for second spot.
The Mixers, at 3-7, are now virtually fighting for survival.
They have gone on a downward spiral since conquering the Blaze Boosters in last conference’s title series.
San Mig Coffee ended 2013 with a loud thud, suffering an embarrassing 77-101 ripping at the hands of Rain or Shine on Dec. 29.
The Mixers, appearing to have their minds fixated on the holidays, were completely dominated by the E-Painters to the utter disappointment and frustration of coach Tim Cone.
Hardly seeing fire and intensity from his players, Cone was in complete silence during the halftime break.
In the final half, he stayed silent on their bench until the closing part when their reserves had subbed the San Mig core group.
The Kings, meanwhile, were all business even on Christmas Day, fashioning out a 97-83 rout of the Petron Blaze Boosters.
Three days later, Ginebra pulled off an escape act, overcoming a five-point deficit in the last 15 seconds as they squeaked past the Meralco Bolts, 83-82.
And thus the Kings are in the lead heading into the homestretch of the elims phase.
“Dikit-dikit pa rin naman. At talagang gusto namin todo laro lagi,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin. (SB)
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