MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine guns for solo second place while Meralco looks to go above the .500 mark at fifth place as they face San Mig Coffee and Globalport, respectively, tonight in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts take on the Batang Pier at 5:45 p.m. then the Elasto Painters tangle with the Mixers at 8 p.m. ushering in the resumption of the Petron Blaze Saturday series pitting Barako Bull against Air21 and Alaska Milk versus Petron also at the Big Dome.
Sunday is big treat featuring three-time defending champion Talk n Text versus crowd darling Barangay Ginebra in the 5:15 p.m. main game in the same venue.
Talk n Text, Ginebra and Rain or Shine are tied at second place behind unbeaten leader Petron (4-0) with identical 3-1 win-loss marks.
The Elasto Painters try to move half-a-game ahead of the Texters and the Kings as they clash with the San Mig side aching to get going after finally nailing its first win in its last game against Air21.
The Mixers, struggling minus injured key players, needed to dig deep in outlasting the Express, 92-83, in a double-overtime duel Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
With Asi Taulava and Vic Manuel already out on fouls, the Mixers pounced on the Express at the paint in second overtime and eventually pulled through after dropping all their first three games in the tourney.
“We don’t care whether it’s an ugly win or a beautiful win, we just need to come out with a win,†said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone relieved they have gotten over the hump.
“We’ll take any win and we’ll try to keep ourselves going,†Cone also said.
James Yap (with tendinitis) and Joe Devance (bruised knee) are still doubtful as they go up against the E-Painters.
TY Tang, Jeff Chan, Beau Belga and Jervy Cruz got the team to a good start, then the rest of the E-Painters provided help coming off the bench as they bounced back from a loss to the Gin Kings, repulsing the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 91-83, also Sunday.
In control almost throughout, coach Yeng Guiao was able to play his rookies extended minutes. Jeric Teng and Raymond Almazan responded with breakout performances.
Tonight, Almazan, the No. 3 draft pick, is up for an exciting matchup with No. 2 draft selection and long time NCAA rival Ian Sangalang.
It’s a battle between Meralco’s grizzled warriors versus Globalport’s young guns earlier in the other game.
“Done with Ginebra and we can’t live in the past. Now, we are up against the best offensive team. They are overflowing with individual talent. They can flat out score. A shootout will be disastrous for us,†said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
The Bolts hit the .500 mark in the tourney with back-to-back wins over Air21 and Ginebra after successive losses to Talk n Text and Rain or Shine.