Laro Ngayon (Mall of Asia Arena)
4:15 p.m. Globalport vs Barako Bull
7 p.m. Star vs Ginebra
MANILA, Philippines – Bitbit ang ‘twice-to-beat’ advantage, isang panalo lamang ang kailangan ng No. 4 Barangay Ginebra at No. 5 Globalport para makaabante sa knockout phase.
Lalabanan ng Gin Kings ang No. 9 Star Hotshots ngayong alas-7 ng gabi matapos ang bakbakan ng Batang Pier at No. 8 Barako Bull Energy sa alas-4:15 ng hapon sa quarterfinals ng 2015-2016 PBA Philippine Cup sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.
“We both wanna go out there and win. I love the Purefoods (Star) guys dearly, but at this point there’s no love lost between us,” sabi ni two-time PBA Grand Slam champion coach at Ginebra mentor Tim Cone sa pagsagupa niya sa dati niyang koponang Star.
Pinitas ng Gin Kings ang No. 4 ticket nang talunin ang Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, 91-84, noong nakaraang Linggo kung saan humakot si seven-foot center Greg Slaughter ng game-high na 27 points.
Nagdagdag naman si 6’8 forward Japeth Aguilar ng 17 markers, habang may 12 si point guard Sol Mercado.
Nauna nang tinalo ng Star ang Ginebra, 86-78, noong Oktubre 25 kung saan sila lumamang ng 31 points.
“The first time that we met that was a team that was still figuring out how to play together. Now, they’re already on a different level that they’ve already figured out a way to win,” sabi ni Hotshots’ rookie coach Jason Webb sa Gin Kings, kasalukuyang nasa three-game winning streak.
Muling aasahan ng Hotshots sina two-time PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap, PJ Simon, Marc Pingris, Alex Mallari at Mark Barroca.
Sa unang laro, hangad naman ng Globalport na walisin ang Barako Bull na una nilang binigo, 105-91, sa eliminasyon.
Ang No. 1 Alaska at No. 2 San Miguel, ang nagdedepensa sa korona, ang umangkin sa dalawang outright semifinals berth.