ARMED with two straight wins, Meralco is keen on extending its winning run against defending champion Ginebra and bolster its drive for a playoff berth in the season-ending tourney.
The Bolts’ resolve will be tested anew when they battle the Kings today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 5:45 p.m. after Rain or Shine, which will field a new importin Jordan Tolbert, takes on Phoenix in the curtain-raiser at 3 o’clock.
“I took a look at the schedule and wow! Four games in eight days against three of the toughest teams in the league? This (win) is just the first step, actually,” Meralco coach Norman Black said after his charges nipped Magnolia 86-84 three days ago. “We still play Ginebra on Wednesday, Converge on Friday and Phoenix on Sunday.
“Phoenix won its last game so its playoff hopes are really alive, so all three games will be really tough for us,” he added.
Carrying a 5-3 mark, the Bolts will rely on reinforcement KJ McDaniels, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Raymond Almazan, Cliff Hodge, Chris Banchero, Aaron Black, and Chris Newsome.
Ginebra, sporting a 4-2 card that included a 119-93 drubbing of Blackwater last Feb. 19, will pin its hopes on naturalized player Justin Brownlee, reigning MVP Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Jamie Malonzo, Stanley Pringle, and Jeremiah Gray.
Elasto Painters tactician Yeng Guiao is hoping Tolbert, who replaced the injured Greg Smith II (pulled hamstring), can promptly jive with his teammates.
“Kailangang Manalo. Mukhang makakalaban namin sa (eighth) slot ang Phoenix. So, kailangan talunin iyon. Pero siyempre, kapag ganoon ang sitwasyon mahirap mag-expect,” Guiao said.
“You have a day of practice with your import and then you’re playing a must-win game.
Kumbaga, backs-against-the-wall kami. Kung mayroong three or four days of practice sana mas maganda.”
Rain or Shine is out to recover from a 99-110 defeat at the hands of NLEX last Saturday and improve its 2-6 slate.
Aside from Tolbert, the likes of Rey Nambatac, Anton Asistio, Leonard Santillan, Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, Gabe Norwood, and Beau Belga will carry the fight for the Painters.
The Fuel Masters will go into the duel on a high, having scored a 106-103 decision over Converge that hiked their record to 3-5 three days ago.
Phoenix will count on Import Du’vaughn Maxwell, Encho Serrano, Jason Perkins, Tyler Tio, and Javee Mocon to deliver.
