FOUR THE WIN
Phoenix risks immaculate slate vs RoS
Ricci Rivero and the Phoenix Fuel Masters put their 3-0 win-loss card on the line against Rain or Shine in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Tuesday.
Joey Sanchez Mendoza
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Phoenix risks immaculate slate vs RoS
Ricci Rivero and the Phoenix Fuel Masters put their 3-0 win-loss card on the line against Rain or Shine in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Tuesday.
Joey Sanchez Mendoza
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Games today:
(Ynares Center-Antipolo)
5:15 p.m. — Meralco vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. — Phoenix vs Rain or Shine
Phoenix puts its unbeaten streak on the line against a Rain or Shine side still groping for form in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup today at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Adding extra spice to the 7:30 p.m. Group B main game is the first meeting of the Fuel Masters’ newly acquired combo guard Gian Mamuyac against his former team Elasto Painters.
Rain or Shine shipped its former team captain to Phoenix after its first game in the season-ending conference in exchange for future Draft picks.
Mamuyac debuted for the Fuel Masters with a bang last Sunday, scoring six points, three assists and a rebound in their 81-78 squeaker over Barangay Ginebra.
Head coach Charles Tiu expects a sustained level of play from his wards led by efficient import Robert Johnson and solid local crew in youthful stars Ricci Rivero, Kai Ballungay, Jason Perkins and Ken Tuffin.
“We’re happy we’re racking up wins. We hope to be able to sustain the run and hopefully we can sneak into the playoffs,” said Tiu, whose team also tripped other perennial contenders Magnolia and Meralco in its first couple of outings.
While Phoenix is enjoying its flight, the Elasto Painters are in gloomy disposition.
Rain or Shine suffered a 106-131 humiliation at the hands of Blackwater to start its campaign before a 114-122 defeat against Meralco last Saturday.
Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao is vocal about what his team lacks in its piling losses.
“It’s really our matchup with the opposing guards. So, we have to address that in the next game,” he said.
Meanwhile, Blackwater gets an acid test against Meralco in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser as it tries to win a third straight.
After routing Rain or Shine, the Bossing downed Magnolia, 89-81, for a promising start.
“Again, with the players buying in with what we are doing, I guess we start preparing well all the time,” said Blackwater mentor Pat Aquino.
Even head coach Luigi Trillo believes Blackwater pulling off another shocker is not too remote. He’s wary of how dangerous the Bossing are under Aquino and import Kentrell Barkley.
“Coach Pat he’s been a long-time national coach, and now he’s got those guys playing together, they understand the game more,” Trillo said.
“I think Barkley, he’s like a PBA old school import. He faces the basket, he brings a lot of confidence.”
But the Bolts themselves are playing with confidence after recovering from a loss to Phoenix with a 122-114 conquest of Rain or Shine last Saturday after Antonio Hester, standing in for the injured Jordon Varnado, tallied 21 points and nine boards.
