Games on Friday
(Ynares Sports Center, Antipolo)
5pm – Phoenix vs TNT
7:30 pm – San Miguel vs Converge
THERE are no stones thrown because of the logjam at the top but Converge is looking for a strong kick to strengthen its goal of defeating San Miguel Beer (SMB) in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Ynares Sports Center, Antipolo. .
The FiberXers currently sit in second place at 8-3 and could grab the No. 1 in NorthPort (8-3) with a win in a much-needed big game at 7:30 pm against the Beermen.
With only the Top Two teams receiving incentives to win once in the quarterfinals, Converge will definitely want to stay in the picture to finish their campaign – especially since the teams ranked third through seventh are still in contention.
Lurking behind are Meralco (7-3), Eastern (7-3), TNT (6-3), Ginebra (7-4) and Rain or Shine (6-4) — making it a seven-way race to the top. that puts a lot of pressure on the FiberXers to keep up with the Beermen, who are struggling to survive.
TNT, on the other hand, is trying to reverse a painful 117-108 loss to Terrafirma that ended its six-game winning streak, facing resurgent Phoenix (3-8) in a 5pm double header.
The FiberXers will be eager to make it two games in a row to achieve the goal despite the absence of ace anchor Justin Arana following a possible knee injury in their 127-109 win against Blackwater last weekend.
Sans Mr. Arana, MVP Justin Baltazar will carry a lot of the load on the floor as he prepares for his first ever fight against eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, who is determined to keep the Beermen going.
Joining Mr. Baltazar in an effort to stop Mr. Fajardo to bring in Cheick Diallo as Jordan Heading, Schonny Winston and Alec Stockton as the back man.
The Beermen, meanwhile, will need more than Mr. Fajardo to snap a two-game slump that led to a sudden tie with Magnolia and NLEX for the eighth and final playoff spot, holding identical 4-6 slates.
SMB’s biggest loss was 105-104 to NorthPort last weekend following Kadeem Jack’s game-winner as new signing Malik Pope struggled to score again.
CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, Mo Tautuaa, Jericho Cruz and Juami Tiongson will have big shoes to fill in for the poor Pope as coach Leo Austria’s troops look to stay in the playoff race. – John Bryan Ulanday
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