Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Alaska
6:30 p.m. – Petron vs San Mig Coffee
MANILA, Philippines - Mark Borboran endured an injury, fuelling a key surge by Meralco in the third quarter en route to a 95-88 win over Barangay Ginebra in a PBA Philippine Cup road game in Digos, Davao Del Sur last night.
Though playing hurt, Borboran scored 15 points, a big help as the Bolts forged a tie at third place with the Kings and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 2-1.
“It’s a great game and a great victory most especially against Ginebra. Mark Borboran played hurt but he kept us in the game in the third with couples of treys,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
“That’s what good players are about. Every time they step in, they bring in their A-game, Gregorio also said.
Mark Cardona top scored with 21 points with Sol Mercado, Cliff Hodge and Ronjay Buenafe adding double-digit outputs as the Bolts made it two in a row following a 93-86 win over the Alaska Milk Aces Wednesday.
Mark Cardona and rookie Chris Ellis put in 19 each in a losing cause for Ginebra in the kickoff leg of the PBA Phoenix Fuel on Tour series.
San Mig Coffee and Petron Blaze, among the forces to reckon with, test each other’s mettle in an exciting Sunday match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Mixers are so eager to plunge back into action following a winning debut versus the Alaska Milk Aces over a week ago while the Boosters are aching to follow up on their win over the Barako Bull Energy Cola Wednesday.
The Mixers and the Boosters play at 6:30 p.m. succeeding the 4:15 p.m. tiff between the Energy Cola and the Aces.
“It almost feels like another opening game for us since we haven’t played in a while. We’ve been trying to stay sharp and allow guys to make their way back into the lineup,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
“Despite their opening-day loss, Petron is still on paper the best team out there, and they showed how explosive they can be in their last game. Plus their Olsen (Racela)-Rajko (Toroman) combo is very formidable. It will be a tough battle for us,” Cone added.
Petron might really have the advantage in terms of sharpness and chemistry with the team to play its third game in the season.
Coach Olsen Racela is satisfied with their performance in their last game versus Barako. His concern is consistency.
“We need to learn to play consistently for 48 minutes,” said Racela.
Petron Blaze nailed its first win under Racela as the Boosters played tough defense and pushed transition play at every opportunity versus Barako.
“In our first game, we had difficult time with our half court sets. We looked for other ways to score points (against Barako). We got it in transition offense,” said Racela.
“In the previous game, we took 32 three-point attempts. We deviated from it, and we played a combination of inside and outside offense,” Racela also said.
The Boosters cashed in heavily on their up-tempo game, outscoring the Energy Cola, 30-4, on fastbreak and 21-14, on points off turnovers.
Petron is expected to again push the ball hard to battle San Mig Coffee’s Triangle Offense.
The Mixers played remarkably well in their season debut, clobbering the Aces, 103-83.
“We’re scared by our preseason that we came in very focused. Everybody played well, moved the ball well, defended well and got their shots. It didn’t come every game. But when you do that, you get that 20-point win,” Cone said then.
The Mixers gave the Aces a terrible spanking, dominating throughout with a splendid 64.6-percent field shooting.
But that was 10 days ago, and Cone insists they’re like making a season debut once again.