PJ SImon vs Mark Caguioa. CONTRIBUTED Photo
San Mig Coffee shoots for a fourth straight win Sunday against a Barangay Ginebra side that just wants to get out of the rut in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Gametime is 6:30 p.m. with the odds stacked in favor of the streaking defending champion Mixers even as Globalport and Air21 try to end their respective losing streaks when they slug it out at 4:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, commissioner Chito Salud summoned Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman to his office tomorrow to give his side on that embarrassing incident that took place in the waning seconds of Alaska’s 103-93 victory over the Boosters on Friday night.
Balkman got into a scuffle with his own teammates with 21 seconds left when the Petron locals tried to prevent him from confronting game officials.
The Petron import shoved Ronald Tubid hard and choked Arwind Santos in full view of a big Friday crowd. He also cursed assistant coach Biboy Ravanes who also tried to get him out of an argument with the referees.
Petron coach Olsen Racela said that Balkman had apologized to each member of the team later at the dugout and did the same to Santos’ wife, mother and in-laws after the game. Balkman also issued a public apology for his action yesterday through SMC, which owns the franchise of Petron, San Mig Coffee and Ginebra in the league.
Racela said Balkman’s fate is up to management, which was having a meeting at presstime to discuss the unprecedented situation.
TALK ‘N Text nipped Barako Bull, 101-98, in a road game last night in Legaspi City, Albay.