Phoenix rolls dice, parades new import

Games today:

(Ynares Center-Antipolo)

5:15 p.m. — Converge vs Macau

7:30 p.m. — Phoenix vs Meralco

Phoenix is taking a risky gamble by fielding a new import in a must-win encounter against Meralco as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals seat race in Group B nears the crucial stretch today at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

Except for Magnolia, all the other five teams in the pool remain in the running for the three playoffs berths still up for grabs.

The Fuel Masters will try to move closer to securing one against the Bolts at their 7:30 p.m. encounter.

However, it will be a little challenging for Phoenix with replacement reinforcement Cellus Earlington taking over the spot of BJ Johnson, whose contract only indicated service until August and is now playing in Russia.

The 6-foot-5 Earlington, who played in Israel and Italy, has huge shoes to fill after Johnson averaged 30.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists in leading Phoenix to a 4-3 win-loss record before the FIBA window and Asian Games break.

The Fuel Masters, who are seeking to rebound from back-to-back losses before the halt, are tied in second place with Rain or Shine behind the streaking quarters-bound Hotshots (6-3).

Meralco, on the other hand, are within striking distance with a 4-5 mark but need to win its last game in the pool play to create some breathing room inside the top four from trailing Barangay Ginebra (3-5) and Blackwater (3-5).

The Bolts will try to avenge its 97-98 loss to Phoenix in the first round where they played sans an import.

But this time Meralco has Jordon Varnado in the fold and is riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak after downing the Kings and the Bossing.

Meanwhile, quarters-bound Converge eyes a fourth straight win and build a case for a favorable seeding in the next round against also-ran guest team Macau in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser.

The FiberXers are in solo fourth spot with a 6-4 mark, just a win behind third running defending champion TNT (7-4).

Converge bannered by its twin towers in Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana, consistency from import Cameron Clark and gutsy performance from rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño, is expected to roll over the nine-player Giant Pandas.