ALL ROADS LEAD TO BIG DOME SUNDAY FOR MANILA CLASICO
The passion, thrill and excitement will surely be there. The atmosphere will be intense. The venue will be packed with the crowd taking sides.
This is the rivalry of this generation, and they call it “the Manila Clasico.”
Tickets have been sold out days before Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Purefoods Star face off for the first time in PBA Season 40 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
“The Manila Clasico is always a big event and even more so for us because we can’t afford to fall too deep in the standings,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.
“We’ve had a week to get James (Yap) and Ping (Marc Pingris) re-acclimated into the lineup and to get Don (Allado) into better game shape. Hopefully, that will make a difference in the game. We now Ginebra is going to be hungry,” Cone added.
“Games like this are reasons why we play this game,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso.
“It’s gonna be a challenge yet special going up against my mentor, coach Tim. But it’s not about us. It’s about our teams and being prepared for battle,” Cariaso added. “You can assume it will be a very intense game. Emotions will be high.”
Purefoods has won the last three games of this classic match-up, but Ginebra could be very tough now, being very well in sync in its second conference under Cariaso.
In fact, the Kings are off to a better start than the Hotshots, claiming stirring triumphs over the Talk n Text Tropang Texters, the Kia Sorento and the Blackwater Elite. Their lone defeat came at the hands of the NLEX Road Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Hotshots have just broken into the win column via a come-from-behind win over the GlobaPort Batang Pier. Purefoods lost its first two games against Alaska and San Miguel Beer.
“We’re in a danger zone right now. We’re in a danger area to live. Fortunately, we’re able to come back with our young team,” said Cone after their scrambling victory against the Batang Pier.
“You can’t do that against seasoned teams. You fell behind by 16 and you’re gone,” Cone also said.
Mark Barroca scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Purefoods Star overcame an early 18-point deficit versus GlobalPort.
Marc Pingris had his clutch plays in his PBA comeback from his Gilas Pilipinas stint, helping Purefoods finally nail a “W.”
It’s a win that augurs well for an expected battle with Ginebra. (SB)
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