Barako Bull tests Ginebra

BARAKO Bull import Solomon Alabi (middle) will be the main thorn for Barangay Ginebra. RICHARD A. REYES

BIÑAN, Laguna—Less than a week after all pretournament hype on them were extinguished, Barangay Ginebra gets a chance at redemption when the Gin Kings slug it out with the Barako Bull Energy in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Alonte Sports Center here.

After going down in shambles in their debut against Meralco on Tuesday, the Kings and the much-ballyhooed Michael Dunigan plunge back into action in the 5:15 p.m. game against a Barako Bull crew that will be seeking a piece of the early lead.

Ginebra, which underachieved in the last two conferences under the now sacked Jeffrey Cariaso, played well below expectations in a 74-85 loss to the Bolts in the inaugurals, failing to maximize the huge advantage it had in size and failing to get Dunigan going.

Ato Agustin, who is back for another tour on the Ginebra bench, never got his tall frontline to work against the Bolts, as Meralco simply outworked the Gin Kings on both ends on the way to the stirring triumph.

Against the Energy, the Kings will be facing another energetic import in Sol Alabi, whose true worth will be tested after playing almost unchallenged in a 92-70 win over an import-less Blackwater five last Wednesday.

The loss to the Bolts certainly had an effect on the expectations the fans had on Ginebra before opening day.

Ginebra, after all, bagged one of the most sought after imports in Dunigan while continuing to have potentially one of the strongest local lineups on paper with a core built around the 7-foot Greg Slaughter and former MVPs Mark Caguioa and Jay Jay Helterbrand and LA Tenorio.

Meanwhile, Blackwater was fined P100,000 by the Office of the Commissioner the other day for not suiting up import Chris Charles against the Energy.

Coach Leo Isaac opted not to use Charles, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, to get him healthier against Talk ‘N Text and Richard Howell in the 3 p.m. game today.