Gin Kings brace for tough dogfight against Beermen

Games on Friday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – Blackwater vs NorthPort
7:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs San Miguel

BARELY HAVING TIME to shake rust and get a rhythm coming off a 26-day break, Barangay Ginebra takes a major test just two games into its PBA Philippine Cup campaign.

After encountering little resistance from skidding Terrafirma (1-3) in Wednesday’s 101-80 opening romp, the Gin Kings are in for a dogfight against San Miguel Beer (2-1) on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It wasn’t a great game (against Terrafirma) but we played solid. We’re a little sloppy at times but it’s our first game. Hopefully, we can tighten things up and be better in our second game. We need to be going up against San Miguel who is always the All-Filipino favorite,” said coach Tim Cone. “We know we have work cut out for us on Friday.”

While the Gin Kings are still getting their feet wet after losing its marathon duel with TNT in the Commissioner’s Cup finals on March 28, SMB has had the benefit of a good workout from the early hostilities of the season-ending conference.

That’s something else the June Mar Fajardo-bannered Beermen can use to their advantage in the 7:30 p.m. marquee encounter where solo second behind pacesetting Magnolia (3-0) is at stake.

“The problem with coming late into the conference is you’re not as sharp as some of the other teams,” noted Mr. Cone, whose team reassembled for the Philippine Cup training camp only last week.

“You do get a longer break which is important for our guys to be able to rest their bodies. But still, when you get back, the games come a lot faster and you’ve got to make up that time.

“Also, you’re playing teams who have a rhythm already and made some adjustments to their game, to the rotations. And we haven’t been able to do that,” he added.

More than match-fitness, the Beermen are also bringing into the table a strong determination to rebound after their 98-95 overtime heartbreaker to the Hotshots on Holy Wednesday.

NorthPort (1-1) and Blackwater (0-2) engage at 5 p.m. in a clash of squads in need of boosting wins. — Olmin Leyba