Petron, Ginebra start title drive

Manila, Philippines - Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra, two teams out to go all the way to the top after coming out short in the season’s first two conferences, take on separate rivals to start their bids in the PBA Governors Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome today.

Jay Washington and his teammates show up for the first time in their Petron Blaze Boosters jerseys as they tangle with the Meralco Bolts B-Boys at 5:30 p.m.

The Kings clash with the Powerade Tigers in the other game at 7:45 p.m., hoping to put behind them their loss to the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the Commissioner’s Cup finals.

It’s the first regular Metro Manila twinbill in the season-ending tourney to be followed by a Big Dome double-header on Wednesday pitting Rain or Shine versus Air21 5 p.m. then Talk n Text against Alaska Milk at 7:15 p.m.

It’s a short tourney that each team is aching to come out strong and pick up their game early.

Needless to say, all nine ball clubs hope to get a boost from their imports.

The Kings are counting on import Curtis Stinson with their roster depleted all the more with Billy Mamaril on the sidelines with a fractured hand.

With Rico Villanueva out for the rest of the season due to an ACL tear, the Kings are left with only Eric Menk and Yancy de Ocampo to man the middle.

Energetic forward Rudy Hatfield is also out, back in the United States to attend to personal business.

Eric Rodriguez, Mark Andaya and Ken Bono are among free agents hoping to get a call from Ginebra.

The team can only hope they’ve got the right import in Stinson.

The 6-foot-2 guard, a Bronx, New York native, played college ball for Iowa State and has been a fixture in the NBA D-League since 2007. He’s a two-time D-League first team and D-League MVP this season.

Versus the Tigers, the Kings face former import Chris Porter.

The Auburn University product led Ginebra through the quarterfinals of the 2006 Fiesta Conference before being beaten by eventual champion Red Bull.