It’s Christmas Day, and everyone is in the mood of giving and sharing – but not for the four PBA teams gunning for playoff spots in the KFC-Philippine Cup.
Barangay Ginebra tackles Coca-Cola in the main game at 5:30 p.m. while Purefoods meets Burger King in the curtain-raiser at 3 p.m. at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
Ginebra and Purefoods share fourth spot with identical 8-6 records and both are still in the thick of the fight for the two outright Final Four slots. The Gin Kings and the Giants are just two and a half games behind the second-placed San Miguel Beer (12-3) and No. 1 team Alaska (11-2).
Burger King (5-9) is still in the race for one of three automatic seats in the quarterfinals, while Coke (3-11) will try to firm up its grip on the last spot for the knockout wildcard phase.
This Friday will mark the seventh time in eight seasons the PBA is playing on Christmas day. It started in 2002 during the All-Filipino Finals when Coke downed Alaska in Game Four to win its first championship. Since 2004, the league has scheduled two games every Christmas.
Against the Tigers, the Kings are favored to prevail owing to their 113-104 triumph in their first meeting last November 27.
Ginebra, however, should not take Coke lightly.
For one, the Tigers are coming off back-to-back wins, including an upset win over Alaska, 105-92, last Sunday.
“Coke is playing very well in their past two games,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, whose team lost the previous two games to Sta. Lucia Realty (88-93) and San Miguel Beer (86-91). “I hope we’ll have a good Christmas day with a win.”
As for Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol, he said they have to shut down Ginebra’s wingmen including Ronald Tubid, Cyrus Baguio and JC Intal to bolster their chances.
Games Friday (Astrodome, Pasay City)
3 p.m. — Purefoods vs Burger King
5:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs Coca-Cola
No comments:
Post a Comment