Boosters, Energy clash in duel of leaders

Standings            W       L

Petron                  4       1

Barako Bull          3       1

Rain or Shine                      3       2

Alaska                   2       1

Globalport          2       2

Meralco               2       2

Talk n Text          2       2

Ginebra                1       3

San Mig Coffee                 1       3

Air21                      1       4

Games today

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Petron vs Barako Bull

7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association starts holding a Tuesday card in the season-ending Governors Cup tonight with Petron Blaze colliding with Barako Bull in a duel of top teams at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alaska Milk and Meralco, bunched in the middle of the pack, aim to sustain their own charge to catch up with the frontrunners as they face off in the other game of the crucial twinbill.

The pacesetting Boosters and the second-running Energy Cola slug it out at 5:15 p.m. then the Aces and the Bolts mix it up at 7:30 p.m. in the initial Tuesday bill in this PBA tourney shifting to a five-playdate-in-a-week format after giving way to the recent FIBA Asia Championship.

Petron and Barako Bull press their bid for the Top Four after making a big turnaround from their losing conference debuts.

“It’s a big game because one streak has to end, and I’m hoping it’s not ours,” said Petron coach Gie Abanilla whose team is now looking for a fifth straight win after dropping their first game versus Meralco.

“We want to improve and believe in what we are trying to build on. In our last game, defense saved us. Against Barako, we are hoping to do well on both ends because they are a very strong, well-coached team. We’re hoping to compete at a high level,” Abanilla also said.

Barako coach Rajko Toroman said his team is in good shape and he’s confident good things can be expected from them. They’re breathing down Petron’s neck at 3-1.

 The Aces and the Bolts both eye a third win and a solid spot in the Top Four near the midpoint of the short elimination phase.

“We could easily be 1-2 or 3-0. We started out okay but, in our past two games, we gave up an average of 36 points in the third quarter. We need to be better if we want to have a chance at that Top Four Incentive,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

“Halfway mark of a short elimination round and it’s important to be above .500. We are 2-2 now, our goal is to find ways to compete and win against a solid Alaska Aces team,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

It could be a defensive battle with the Aces out to neutralize Mario West, and the Bolts believing playing good “D” is their only way to compete.

“Mario West was a beast in their last game,” noted Trillo, adding the Meralco coach has gotten his team fighting hard despite their injury woes.

“Just like the way we won against Petron and Talk n Text, defense will be our focal point,” said Gregorio. “Alaska is such a well coached and very disciplined team, we must search ways to get them out of their comfort level.”

After being upset by Globalport, Alaska bounced back with stirring wins over Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra.

Meralco currently totes an even 2-2 card with victories over Petron and Talk n Text and losses to Barako Bull and Ginebra.