Revivified Kings battle Dyip

Slowly getting its groove back, a revamped Barangay Ginebra shoots for a third straight win against Columbian Dyip to fortify its playoff chance in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup today at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Action begins at 7 p.m. with the streaking Gin Kings looking to extend their win streak to three against fellow playoff hopeful Columbian entering the tail of the mid-season conference’s elimination round.

Globalport, meanwhile, eyes to maintain hold on the fifth spot against Phoenix Petroleum in the first game at 4:30 p.m.

Currently still below .500 with a 3-5 slate, the ninth-running Gin Kings get an added boost in veteran sniper Jeff Chan to help them barge into the top eight with still three games to go in the import-laden conference.

The 34-year old Chan was acquired by Ginebra from Phoenix on Monday in exchange for its 2018 first round pick.

Coming off a huge 104-84 win over Magnolia on Sunday, Ginebra is tipped to prevail against the Dyip, especially with Chan tasked to fill Ginebra’s three-point threat right in his debut.

“That win is not good enough. We still got three more really tough games and we gotta go out and get the next one, the one after that, and the one after that. We should play our best game (against Columbian),” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

Hobbled with the injuries on Greg Slaughter, Joe Devance and Sol Mercado, along with a couple of import changes early in the conference, Ginebra actually started on wrong foot with a meager 1-5 record before racking up two straight wins that started against NLEX last Saturday in Legaspi City, Albay.

Now with their backs against the wall, Cone is still confident the Gin Kings can unleash their ‘Never Say Die’ mantra with a complete local line-up, alongside the returning import Justin Brownlee and new addition Chan.

“We’re basically in playoff mode. We have no margin for error. We have to keep finding ways to win despite all the problems we had and the bad start,” added Cone.

Columbian Dyip will be banking on a 115-107 win over Phoenix last week to Ginebra and keep its place inside the eight-team quarterfinal cast.

Head coach Ricky Dandan is tapping import John Bailey Fields III with RaShawn McCarthy, Carlo Lastimosa and Glenn Khobuntin providing support.