Powerhouses Petron, Ginebra collide Sunday

GAMES SUNDAY
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4:15 p.m.—Air21 vs Meralco
6:30 p.m.—Petron Blaze vs Barangay Ginebra

PETRON Blaze and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, powerhouse sister teams reeling from two straight setbacks, try to get back on the winning track at each other’s expense today in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Gametime is 6:30 p.m. with no team having a clear edge as Petron will be playing its second-straight game without prized rookie June Mar Fajardo.

The Gin Kings, the sixth placers here last season, fell on the same day that the Boosters took an upset loss, with Ginebra going down against tournament darkhorse Barako Bull, 92-82.

Meanwhile, Meralco also tries to rebound from an unexpected loss last Wednesday when the Bolts battle Air21 in the 4:30 p.m. contest.

The Bolts became rookie team Globalport’s first victims after blowing a huge fourth-quarter lead and a potential game-tying play in the waning seconds.

Mark Caguioa has been getting a huge chunk of the offensive load for the Kings, who have two talented first round picks in Chris Ellis and Keith Jensen but Ginebra continues to grope for a strong presence in the middle.

In fact, against the Energy last Friday, Ginebra was playing 6-foot-3 Willie Wilson and 6-foot-4 Rudy Hatfield at center, something which the Boosters could take advantage of with their huge frontline.

Jay Washington is slowly but surely rounding out to top form for Petron, the pretournament pick with two coaches which is in the bottom of the standings with a 1-3 record like newcomer Globalport.

Chris Lutz, Joseph Yeo and Alex Cabagnot are the guards who would have to work double time on defense in order to contain Caguioa, Jensen and Ellis.

Washington could spell the difference in tonight’s game, with the foul-prone Billy Mamaril the only legitimate center in the Ginebra lineup who could match up physically with the 6-foot-7 Washington.

Arwind Santos could also be another match up problem for Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen, and Santos is one man who can really tear up the Kings because he can play defense on anyone in the league.

Petron, even with Fajardo out for at least four weeks because of an operation in the scrotum, still remains as the strongest team on paper.

But on Friday, the Boosters failed to take care of a 14-point lead with under nine minutes to play against Alaska, bowing, 88-86, when former Petron gunslinger Dondon Hontiveros erupted for four fourth-quarter treys.

The Boosters also could not handle Calvin Abueva, who finally made his professional debut after playing several glorious years with San Sebastian in the NCAA.

Meralco will also be returning to the ultramodern site where its coaching staff led by Ryan Gregorio lost a huge amount of cash and valuables to thieves who managed to get into their dugout before halftime despite tight security.