Games today:
Smart Araneta Coliseum
4:15 p.m. – KIA Motors vs. Globalport
7 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra vs. Blackwater
The Globalport Batang Pier, badly needing a shot in the arm, will finally be playing their first game in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations where they are actually listed as the favorites.
With a 1-2 card and their losses coming by collapsing in the stretch, the Batang Pier slug it out with newcomer Kia Motors at 4:15 p.m. today to lift their sagging spirits and restore the team’s confidence.
A win would also serve coach Pido Jarencio in good stead after rumors of an impending coaching change surfaced just one game into the season—when the Batang Pier lost control in the fourth quarter to lose to NLEX.
Globalport bounced back from that defeat and conquered Barako Bull. But it lost again, wasting away an 18-point third quarter lead against defending champion Purefoods on Friday.
Globalport’s next two games starting with tonight’s match with Kia could prove critical as the second would be against another expansion team – Blackwater Elite – later in the week.
Against the Sorento, the Batang Pier have an advantage in all positions with the Kia morale at a low following two defeats that have come by an average of 30.5 points.
Stanley Pringle is slowly but surely taking over Globalport together with Alex Cabagnot and if Jarencio can get Terrence Romeo to share the ball a little more, then the Batang Pier could be a really potent force in the tournament.
Romeo scored 33 points against the Road Warriors and was held down to just nine against Barako Bull, which the Batang Pier defeated.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra also tries to get back on track later in the night when it battles the Elite as overwhelming favorites in the 7 p.m. contest.
Ginebra will be coming off what could be considered as the first upset of the tournament, when the Gin Kings bowed to the Road Warriors, 97-81, also on Friday night at the Big Dome in Cubao.
It wasn’t a pleasant sight seeing the Kings implode in the fourth quarter, especially when Japeth Aguilar was seen having words with relief guard Josh Urbiztondo after a serious mental lapse in the fourth quarter.
Blackwater is reeling from three straight losses but has obviously played a lot better compared to Kia.
The Elite have pushed formidable opponents Rain or Shine and Meralco to the limit even with a lineup that pales in comparison to their star-studded foes.