THE Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the defending champion Talk N Text Tropang Texters eye solo third place when they battle separate rivals in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Antipolo Ynares Center Center today.
The Gin Kings (5 wins, 3 losses) battle the Coca-Cola Tigers (1-7) in the 7:30 p.m. main game, while the Tropang Texters (5-3) meet the Burger King Whopper (3-5) at 5 p.m.
The San Miguel Beermen (7-2) take on the Smart-Gilas RP national team in an exhibition game at 2:30 p.m.
Ginebra and Talk N Text are tied with the Sta. Lucia Realtors (5-3) at third to fifth places.
All alone at the top of the standings are the league-leading Alaska Aces (8-1). The other teams include the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (4-4), the Barako Bull Energy Boosters (2-7) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-7).
The Gin Kings will be looking to rebound after they suffered back-to-back losses to Sta. Lucia last week and Talk N Text last Wednesday.
Fatigue caught up with Ginebra as the Realtors snapped the three-game winning streak of the Gin Kings. A full week of rest did not help either as the Ginebra squad suffered its second consecutive loss when the Gin Kings bowed to Talk N Text.
Expected to lead the Gin Kings are big men Eric Menk, Billy Mamaril and Rico Villanueva, as well as talented swingmen Ronald Tubid, JC Intal and Cyrus Baguio.
But their backcourt is decimated as they may likely continue to miss the services of ailing Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa. A third guard, Celino Cruz, fractured his left hand towards the end of the first half in the game against Talk N Text.
The Gin Kings will be battling a desperate team in Coca-Cola. The Tigers, alone at tenth place, want to climb out of the cellar because only the last-placed team after the double round robin classification phase is eliminated outright.
Meanwhile, the Board of Governors of the Philippine Basketball Association has set their sights on luring big Asian players as imports for the Fiesta Cup.
PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said the Board has unanimously agreed that all imports for league’s season-ending conference shall come from FIBA Asia countries only.
If feasible, Barrios said a height limit of 6’ “8 will be set for all candidates.
“The Board gave us one month to study if the proposal is feasible or not,” said Barrios, adding naturalized players are not qualified.
Among the possible candidates are Lebanon’s Fadi El-Khatib, Korea’s Lee Kyu Sup and Iran’s Mohhamad Samad Nikkah.
