PBA IMAGES
BARANGAY Ginebra and Rain or Shine battle separate foes Wednesday looking to extend two-game winning streaks as elimination round action in the PBA Governors’ resumes at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Elasto Painters slug it out with Meralco in the 4:15 p.m. contest before the Gin Kings mix it up with Blackwater and Eric Dawson in the 7 p.m. game as both seek to stay in the upper half of the standings.
The tournament enters the halfway mark of the elimination round this week and piling up wins can’t come at a more crucial time since the race for a seat in the top four heats up for twice-to-beat privileges in the first round of the playoffs.
Four teams will get the boot after the single round eliminations, while those who advance as the fifth- to eighth-ranked squads would need to defeat higher ranked foes two straight times to march on.
Surprising Mahindra and traditional power TNT KaTropa are undefeated after four games and are setting the pace, with the Kings only half-a-game behind at 3-1 and the Elasto Painters just a rung behind at 2-1.
Meralco, meanwhile, has lost its last two games after a 2-0 start and would need to pick up the pace again in order to keep in step with the leaders.
Rain or Shine has one of the most prolific local rosters in the tournament to complement import Dior Lowhorn as the Painters will definitely have their hands full against Allen Durham and Asian import Mohammed Jamshidi.
Durham slowed down a bit before the All-Star break as a nose injury required the use of a protective mask.
Jamshidi, meanwhile, has been in town long enough now to know the entire Meralco system and start contributing heavily on offense.
Justin Brownlee has gone 2-1 ever since coming in as a replacement for the injured Paul Harris at Ginebra, which cannot afford to take it easy against the Elite and Eric Dawson.
Blackwater management gave Dawson a leave to go back to the United States after feeling homesick.
The NBA veteran should be recharged enough in trying to lead the Elite to just their second win in five games.
The league is coming off the three-day PBA All-Star extravaganza also at the Big Dome.