Games Wednesday
(Ynares Center, Antipolo City)
5:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs Blackwater
By MARK REY MONTEJO
Barangay Ginebra and Meralco are looking to boost their respective playoff bids when they clash against separate rivals in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Coming off a long break due to 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, the Kings (3-4) try to shake off the rust as they go two in a row against the Blackwater Bossing (1-7) in their 7:30 p.m. contest.
Opening the double-header action is the 5:15 p..m. collision between the Bolts (3-4) and the Terrafirma Dyip (1-7) with the latter aiming to snap a two-game slide.
Both Meralco and Ginebra are in dire need of win to shore up their chances now that the elims is entering its crucial stage.
And they must also win their remaining games to have a chance – albeit very slim – to make to the Top Four where twice-to-beat bonuses are up for grabs.
As things stand now, only Rain or Shine (7-2), San Miguel (6-2), Converge (6-3), and Magnolia (6-3) have solid chances of securing a bonus in the quarters.
Fresh off their Gilas Pilipinas stints, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and RJ Abarrientos are likely to lead Ginebra’s assault along with Troy Rosario, Stephen Holt, and Jeremiah Grey for a chance to start a new run.
Rosario and Holt were pivotal in their previous contest, conniving in crunch time to help power Ginebra past Phoenix, 102-93, last Nov. 16, in a win that spoiled that spoiled Ricci Rivero’s 28-point eruption.
On the other hand, Blackwater hopes to end its string of defeats despite the absence of its key players in Dalph Panopio and Abu Tratter, who were named in the Gilas team for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
While Panopio and Tratter donning the tricolors, Sedrick Barefield and Christian David banner the Bossing who are dead set to stop the bleeding off seven-game slide.
Meanwhile, Meralco attempts to rediscover its winning ways over the slumping Terrafirma side which is reeling from six straight losses.
Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, Cliff Hodge, CJ Cansino, and Chris Banchero take charge for the Bolts.
Jerrick Ahanmisi would be on the forefront of the Dyip’s assault along with young guns Paolo Hernandez, Mark Sangalang, Brent Paraiso, Mark Nonoy, and John Bravo.
