Bolts, Gin Kings play vital game

Defending champion Meralco and Barangay Ginebra dispute an outright passage to the quarterfinals in a crucial match in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Both already with five wins under their name, the winner of the 7:30 p.m. main game clash will join Magnolia, San Miguel Beer and NLEX into the next round.

Sporting an even 5-5 win-loss record, the Bolts eye to finish the elimination round on a high note and pray luck will be on their side for a chance to land in the Top 4 with its quarters twice-to-beat advantage.

Meralco won its last two assignments with a rout of Blackwater, 103-85, before ending NLEX’s six-game win streak with a 108-92 decision behind Chris Newsome and rookie CJ Cansino last Sunday.

Mathematically, the Bolts can climb up the upper four after the eliminations if they beat the Kings and there will be no four teams reaching at least seven wins. However, even in that scenario, Meralco will still need to end with a superior quotient to get a coveted quarters incentive.

But whatever the odds are, Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo would like to take care of what’s in front of his team first.

“We look forward to facing Ginebra. We know how good Ginebra is. We know how ready they are. Sometimes those types of games make you playoffs ready,” he said.

Ginebra is also on a roll after winning three consecutive games with its last coming off a 101-99 escape over Blackwater all thanks to the game-winning basket of veteran forward Japeth Aguilar last week at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

“They’re playing well. Japeth’s playing well. Those guys are starting to gel. The acquisitions they have, all those guys they got, (Stephen) Holt, (Troy) Rosario, (RJ) Abarrientos, they’re complementing the old guys Scottie (Thompson), Japeth. It’s a challenge for us,” Trillo added.

The Kings hold a 5-2 slate and a win would solidify their position inside the Top 4.

Ginebra sits behind the Beermen and Road Warriors, who are tied with 6-2 cards. The Hotshots are on top with a 7-1 mark.

Meanwhile, grand slam-seeking TNT seeks to sustain its winning run against NorthPort at 5 p.m.

The Tropang 5G has won five straight after a 0-3 start.

The Batang Pier are on the brink of missing the playoffs after ending up as top seed in the Commissioner’s Cup, losing the last six of their seven starts.

NorthPort will have a different look with Calvin Abueva and Jerick Balanza coming in from Magnolia in exchange for Will Navarro in trade that also involved the Hotshots second round pick in the Season 51 Draft approved last Tuesday.

TNT could see a change should the PBA approve a proposed deal involving the rights to Mikey Williams for Converge’s Jordan Heading.

Heading is sure to be a welcome addition for the Tropang Giga after losing veteran playmaker Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac to season-ending injuries. The PBA has yet act on the trade proposal.

Heading is still waiting for the green light to finally see action due to back spasms.

TNT is fresh from a 111-103 win over Rain or Shine last 21 May.