Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5 p.m. — Blackwater vs NorthPort

7:30 p.m. — Barangay Ginebra vs San Miguel

Barangay Ginebra looks to keep its fiery start blazing as it slugs it out with rebound-seeking San Miguel Beer in a clash of titans in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is set at 7 p.m. with the Kings looking for a followup to their debut rout of Terrafirma two days ago.

Meanwhile, NorthPort top gun Arvin Tolentino is expected to suit up in the Batang Pier’s 5 p.m. tussle against winless Blackwater.

But all eyes will be on Ginebra and its mission of another crack at a title after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.

“Our guys are really good at moving forward and moving on. We don’t look back. We are motivated because it’s an all-Filipino and we want to get off and get our feet wet and try to get a win under our belts,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said.

The Kings came out like a well-oiled machine, crushing the Dyip, 101-80, behind Japeth Aguilar’s 30-point explosion.

Scottie Thompson, who reached a career milestone of 500 steals last game, delivered a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds while rookie RJ Abarrientos added 14 markers as Ginebra primed up for a tough showdown against the Beermen led by behemoth June Mar Fajardo.

Cone underscored the importance of slowing down the unstoppable eight-time Most Valuable Player to better the Kings’ chances of pulling off a win.

“June Mar is always the target. You have to figure out how you’re gonna handle him, how much you’ll allow him to dominate the game and you got to pick your poison with their shooters. So, a lot goes into it. It’s tough if you have one day to prepare,” Cone said.

“It’s still early in the conference. We’re hoping that we can come back and play a little better game which we need to stay with San Miguel.”

Ginebra is also crossing its fingers that winger Jeremiah Gray will be available after an injury scare in the opener when his left knee buckled while chasing a loose ball late in the first half. He didn’t return to action after that.

Gray returned in the previous tournament after over a year on the sidelines due to a right knee injury requiring surgery.

The Beermen eye to rebound from a 95-98 overtime loss to league-leading Magnolia before the Holy Week break after winning their first two assignments.

On the other hand, Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Tolentino is expected to be back in the Batang Pier’s rotation after sitting out their 93-116 loss to Rain or Shine last 17 April due to a right hip flexor injury.