Kings, TNT face off Sunday

source: mb.com.ph/

Games Sunday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Alaska
6:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs Talk ’N Text

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra puts its four-game winning streak on the line against depleted Talk ‘N Text Sunday in the last day of eliminations in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Texters, already assured of the twice-to-beat incentive, can afford to lose the no-bearing match, but the Kings have other things in mind.

“We’ll just have to keep playing hard,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen. “You don’t want to enter the game with a mind-set that the game is a non-bearing, because whatever we do, it will be carried over in the playoffs. We don’t want to build bad habits.”

The quarterfinal opponents of Ginebra and TNT will not be known until after today’s matches.

In the curtain-raiser at 4:15 p.m., playoff-bound Rain or Shine battles also-ran Alaska.

The Texters claimed the first twice-to-beat following a come-from-behind 80-78 win over Petron Blaze last Tuesday.

That victory hiked TNT’s record at 10-3.

The other twice-to-beat privilege went to B-Meg, which finished its elimination campaign under new mentor Tim Cone with a 10-4 win-loss card after an 86-74 victory against newcomer Shopinas.com last Thursday.

A TNT loss will put the Llamados on top and a quarterfinal clash with No. 8 Powerade. The Texters, on the other hand, will face No. 7 Barako Bull.

Talk ’N Text beat Ginebra in their first meeting, 86-71, last Nov. 6, although at that time, only two players – reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo – were on the injured list.

Alapag is a doubtful starter after he twisted his left ankle versus Petron, and so is fellow guard Jason Castro (calf muscle). Already in the injured list are center Ali Peek (gunshot wound in the nape), guard Ryan Reyes (MCL), as well as forwards Jared Dillinger (ankle) and Aaron Aban (ACL).

That forced TNT mentor Chot Reyes to add the likes of little-known players Bam-Bam Gamalinda and Shawn Weinstein to play alongside mainstays Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey, Larry Fonacier, Aguilar and rookie Pamboy Raymundo.

Ginebra and Rain or Shine can force a three-way tie with Petron at 9-5 if they win their respective matches Sunday. Meralco carries an 8-6 record.
source: mb.com.ph/