BARANGAY Ginebra plays one last game on Friday before the All-Star party, taking on old rival Meralco in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings are perfect through two games in the season-ending tourney but insist they’re a work in progress, needing to find some balance especially in the absence of Scottie Thompson.
Coach Tim Cone says its about playing a little bit up-tempo but at the same time getting to play defense.
That’s the idea as they tangle with the Bolts in the Friday 7:30 p.m. mainer, gunning for win No. 3 before heading the PBA delegation in a journey to Bacolod for the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend.
Cone will be back for another All-Star coaching job, handling Team Japeth Aguilar that will feature five Ginebra players in Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger, Jamie Malonzo, Maverick Ahanmisi and Stanley Pringle.
The injury-hit Thompson is actually also in the lineup.
Another Ginebra player in John Pinto made it to the Mark Barroca team that will be under coach Jorge Gallent.
But at the moment, the focus is on Meralco as the Kings look to sustain momentum, especially as up next for them is the Manila Classico versus Magnolia on March 31 at Big Dome.
Cone and his troops are out to keep the fire of their back-to-back wins over Rain or Shine and Phoenix Super LPG versus a Meralco side hoping to snap out of a two-game slump.
Coach Luigi Trillo and his Bolts are off to a rough start, going down to a 96-93 upset by Blackwater before bouncing back with a 121-117 decision over Rain or Shine, then losing their next two games to NLEX, 99-96, and NorthPort, 90-85.
The Bolts were in a battle in each of their three losses, but couldn’t pull it off at the finish.
This is not lost on the Kings, knowing how tough a rival Meralco is.
All-Star players in the Meralco squad are Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge. (SB)
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