Kings’ best yet to come

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Help is coming for Barangay Ginebra.

Greg Slaughter, Sol Mercado and Art dela Cruz may return from injuries this Saturday when the Gin Kings head to Lucena City, Quezon, to face the winless Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Slaughter has not played since early September due to a sprained ankle while Mercado had surgery on his meniscus.
Dela Cruz, on the other hand, has yet to make his Ginebra debut due to an Achilles tendon injury he sustained while training for the National team last year.

There is also the probability that Joe Devance, who is recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot, may be available for the Oct. 13 duel at Quezon Convention Center.

The Kings’ succeeding game will be on Oct. 28 when they face the Magnolia Hotshots at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The impending return of Slaughter and company should provide the league leaders, currently toting a 7-1 card, a boost in their campaign now that the PBA Governors’ Cup is entering the playoffs phase.

Ginebra became the first team to clinch a quarterfinals berth after Sunday’s 111-105 win over Meralco in Santa Rosa City in Laguna.

The loss was the Bolts’ fifth straight. But Chris Newsome would rather take a positive approach than dwell on their continuing struggles. He believes the Bolts can still turn things around.

“It seems like a hard hill to climb now,” said Newsome. “But in our locker room, everyone’s positive, trying to keep their heads up.”

With reigning Best Import Allen Durham back for a third tour of duty, the Bolts began the conference with a 109-106 win over the Columbian Dyip.

On Friday, Meralco blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead in a 91-94 loss to Blackwater.

“Whenever we have some lapses, that causes us the game,” Newsome said. “We just have to be aware of those lapses.” —PBA.PH