BARANGAY Ginebra, the hottest team in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal playoffs, and sister squad B-Meg slug it out today with the winner getting an inside track on the best-of-seven title series at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Tied in second spot with 8-4 slates, the Gin Kings and the Llamados clash at 6:30 p.m. contest even as Meralco and dethroned champion Petron Blaze try to go out in style when they lock horns earlier at 4:15.
Ginebra has won all of its three semifinal games and is within a victory of forging a playoff for the second title series berth with the natural No. 2.
B-Meg, on the other hand, will be coming off its first setback in the round on Friday, a shock 101-104 loss to the ousted Bolts, which greatly dampened its campaign for a second straight shot at a conference title.
Whoever wins will move within half-a-game of idle league-leader Rain or Shine, which has two remaining chances to wrap up a first-ever championship series appearance.
The Ginebra-B-Meg clash is all the more important because the winner could even wind up as the No. 1 team and avoid a playoff with whichever side avails of the 4-of-5 incentive in the round.
B-Meg has Rain or Shine left as its last assignment on Wednesday, while the Kings will still battle Talk ‘N Text, also on the same day, in a game that could well determine which side avails itself of the incentive.
Talk ‘N Text has a 7-5 record and is 2-1 in the round. The Tropang Texters’ other game will be against the Elasto Painters on Monday, and a win there would keep them in the running for the semifinal bonus.
Rain or Shine is also 1-2 in the round and could stay tied for No. 1 even if it loses its last two games provided that the winner between Ginebra and B-Meg tonight doesn’t win again and Talk ‘N Text loses to Ginebra on Wednesday.
Mark Caguioa and import Cedric Bozeman will be the main cogs for the Kings, while James Yap and Marcus Blakely will again lead the Llamados, who never got it going Friday and went down in flames against the Bolts.