GLOBALPORT tries to extend a franchise-best winning streak to four today with an eye on a share of the lead when the Batang Pier battle the Alaska Aces in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
One of the hottest teams in the season-opening tournament, the Batang Pier are actually tied with the Aces and two others in second spot at 3-1.
Game time is 4:15 p.m. with Alaska trying to get back on track after a long layoff from a first loss—a controversial 92-93 decision to Barangay Ginebra in Dubai almost two weeks ago.
Talk ‘N Text, another side with a 3-1 card and a three-game winning streak, takes on sister squad NLEX in the 7 p.m. main game.
The Road Warriors will be shooting to snap a two-game skid.
Idle San Miguel Beer sits alone on top at 4-1, a win up on GlobalPort, Alaska, Talk ‘N Text and Rain or Shine, whose only loss came at the hands of the Batang Pier exactly a week ago.
Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle will again be the main men for the Batang Pier, who have never had a start this good in their first four years in the pro league.
Alaska is one team that can match up well with GlobalPort’s guards-oriented roster, with JV Casio, Cyrus Baguio and Ping Exciminiano sure to be called upon to try to contain both Pringle or Romeo.
The Aces can exploit their advantage in the front line with talents like Sonny Thoss, Vic Manuel and Calvin Abueva.
Alaska played two straight games in Dubai and has not seen action since that close shave against Ginebra. It nipped Mahindra, 98-94, for a 1-1 record in its United Arab Emirates swing.
Pringle and Romeo have been combining close to majority of GlobalPort’s output, making it a bit handy for the Alaska coaching staff to identify the men to stop at the other end.
But it would be easier said than done.
Pringle was the toast of the Batang Pier in the game against the Elasto Painters, beating a triple team and scoring the game-winning layup with five-tenths of a second left.
Romeo, meanwhile, has been coming off the bench for coach Pido Jarencio and is on course for possibly his best conference so far. The 5-foot-11 Gilas mainstay is tough to mark one-on-one.