Expansion teams Kia, Blackwater face each other today
Games today:
Cuneta Astrodome
4:15 p.m. – Kia vs Blackwater
7 p.m. – NLEX vs Talk N Text
Gilbert Bulawan of Blackwater shoots over Kias Karl Dehesa in their Commissioner’s Cup meeting last Feb. 28.
The surprising Kia Carnival and fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite take on each other in the first game of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome today.
In the main game, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters tangle with sister team NLEX Road Warriors.
Both the Carnival and Tropang Texters are looking to gain a share of second place in the standings as they sport identical 2-1 (win-loss) slates. Alaska currently occupies solo second with a 3-1 record while Barako Bull is at first place with a 4-0 mark.
Kia, the team of playing coach and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, is starting to throw its weight around against some of the league’s contenders and showed that in its 85-82 come-from-behind victory over the Road Warriors last Monday.
Hyram Bagatsing made the biggest shot of his professional career as he sank the game-winning triple that completed Kia’s comeback from deficits that went as high as 16 points.
The Carnival will be facing a Blackwater team that is coming off an 83-77 win against Ginebra San Miguel last May 16.
Kia and Blackwater, who are playing their first season in the PBA, are 1-1 against each other.
Kia won in the Philippine Cup opener last October 2014 but Blackwater recovered to beat the Carnival in the Commissioner’s Cup early this year.
The Tropang Texters, meanwhile, are coming off a huge 104-103 win over the Aces last week.
Reinforcement Steffphon Pettigrew paced the Texters with 27 points and 16 rebounds that dealt the Aces their first defeat. Ranidel de Ocampo chipped in 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal, Matt Ganuelas Rosser added 17 points and Asian import Sam Daghles orchestrated the offense like a true veteran with 11 assists.