By REYNALD MAGALLON
Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – TNT vs NorthPort
7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs Ginebra
Barangay Ginebra and Meralco try to formalize their passage to the quarterfinals when they rekindle their storied rivalry in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, May 30.
The Bolts, clinging onto the playoff picture at the eighth spot, are in dire need of the victory in their final assignment not only to avoid further complications but also to allow the team to focus on its upcoming BCL Asia campaign without worrying about their playoff fate.
Meralco is currently toting a 5-5 record and a sixth win in their 7:30 p.m. affair with the Kings would lock them up for the Magic 8. A win for Ginebra would also formalize its entry to the next round.
TNT, on the other hand, aims to inch closer to the quarterfinals berth when it guns for win No.5 against the cellar-dwelling NorthPort in the curtain raiser at 5 p.m.
Realistically, Meralco could still go as high as the Top 4 with a victory while a loss could still be disastrous especially since Phoenix and NorthPort are still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot.
A defeat could have the Bolt finishing at a 5-6 record at the eight spot – a slate that is still very much achievable for the Fuel Masters (2-6) and the Batang Pier (1-6) especially if they manage to go on a winning streak in their remaining games.
And that’s something head coach Luigi Trillo hopes to avoid
“We are just going to try to win. At this point we are not sure yet we don’t know the full implications of that,” said Trillo.
“I think we are one foot in in the elims. I think there’s still a mathematical chance that if we lose against Ginebra and Phoenix wins their last three they will tie us so that’s a playoff (game) right so the sure thing is to win against Ginebra,” he added.
Easier said than done, however especially against a Kings side that is playing good basketball of late with guys like Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar leading the charge. Ginebra is also pulling all the stops to solidify its hold of the Top 4 spot.
But Meralco certainly has the tools to pull off the victory with Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero and Bong Quinto expected to spearhead the team in the all-important match.
