Mahindra targets 2nd in row

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra and Meralco hope to get out of a slump while Barako Bull and Mahindra hope to get into a winning mode after a morale-boosting triumph as they figure in a rare Tuesday bill in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan, Laguna tonight.

The Energy and the Enforcers clash at 4:15 p.m. then the Gin Kings and the Bolts collide at 7 p.m. in the twin bill originally set Oct. 21 but reset today on the schedule adjustments made following the postponement of the Oct. 18 season inaugurals due to bad weather.

In today’s PBA visit in Biñan, Barako Bull (2-2) tries to break free from a two-way tie with NLEX at sixth place while Mahindra guns for a second straight win following a 103-93 disposal of NLEX last Friday.

The Kings and the Bolts are hard pressed to start winning, with both languishing in the bottom of the leaderboard even with their solid lineups under grand slam-winning coaches. 

Even with a roster bannered by All-Star players Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, Sol Mercado and Chris Ellis, the Kings are down in the pits with a 1-3 win-loss slate.

With their retooled lineup, the Bolts, meanwhile, have yet to win in four starts in the all-Filipino tournament.

But they are likely to come out with a sense of urgency as they face off in Laguna 48 hours after their defeats at the Philsports Arena Sunday.

“We have to get better from here,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone after a 82-100 blowout by the San Miguel Beermen in their highly anticipated match.

The Bolts, meanwhile, put to naught Gary David’s 40-point explosion in a 106-108 defeat at the hands of the Barako Bull Energy.

The Bolts also had tough stands that they failed to turn to “W’s” versus the Beermen, the Blackwater Elite and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.

The Gin Kings have been inconsistent. They were blown out by the Star Hotshots, 78-86; started strong but fared miserably at the finish in a 79-82 loss to the Energy then finally nailed down one, 93-92, versus the Alaska Milk Aces in Dubai.