Phoenix, Ginebra gun for Magic Four slot as they clash in Philippine Cup

Games on Friday
(PhilSports Arena)
5 p.m. – Converge vs NorthPort
7:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs Ginebra

BARANGAY Ginebra and Phoenix seek to boost their respective positioning as they clash on Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena.

The Gin Kings (3-2) aim to grab a share of third and fourth with idle San Miguel Beer (4-2) and firm up their status inside the “Magic 4” which comes with a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

For the Fuel Masters, it’s about fanning their drive for the Last 8. Sitting at No. 9, the squad can crack the cutoff line and dislodge eighth-running defending champion Meralco (3-5) with an upset of the Gin Kings in the 7:30 p.m. tiff.

Coach Tim Cone’s Ginebra troops have sharpened up their defense recently and showed this is an 85-66 blowout of Converge in their duel in Pampanga.

“I thought we played a much more detailed (defensive) game (against Converge), which was important for us. That’s what is going to get us to the playoffs and make us play well there,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sixth-running FiberXers (4-3) eye a quick rebound in their bid to stay within range of the Top 4 when it takes on slumping NorthPort (1-4) at 5 p.m.

The beatdown at the hands of Ginebra was an eye-opener in Pampanga that coach Franco Atienza hoped would make them wiser moving forward.

Even without injured gunner Arvin Tolentino, the Batang Pier showed they could compete. In their last appearance, they dominated Meralco but blinked first in a down-to-the-wire finish and absorbed a 104-105 heartbreaker.

Notes: Possible sanctions loom as the PBA looks into the commotion that marred on Wednesday’s game between Magnolia and Meralco. Commissioner Willie Marcial said the technical committee is reviewing videos of the incident that saw Meralco’s Cliff Hodge giving a hard foul on Magnolia’s Zav Lucero that resulted in an altercation between the two and triggered a bench-clearing scrum. “Pinatawag natin yung involved parties tomorrow (Friday), around three or four of them,”said Marcial, whose office is expected to slap penalties after hearing the side of those involved. Hodge was assessed a flagrant foul penalty one infraction for his wrestling-style takedown of Lucero after losing ball possession with 2:16 left in the game that the unbeaten Hotshots handily won, 117-92. “I was trying to stop the fastbreak layup. It is what it is. I’m not the ref, so… the guys decided what it’s gonna be, so it’s okay,” Mr. Hodge said. The Fil-am bruiser also claimed that during the ruckus, a Magnolia assistant coach whom he didn’t name “head-butted” him. “The assistant coach head-butted me in my face. I don’t know if they didn’t see it or whatever, but I guess that’s okay for them.” — Olmin Leyba