Hotshots, Kings eye semis seats

Barangay Ginebra team steps up its PBA Governors’ Cup three-peat drive as the Gin Kings clash with the NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.

The top-seeded Kings are the heavy favorites in their 7 p.m. clash with their formidable star-studded roster ranged against the eight-seeded Road Warriors.

“The real hard work starts,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “We know there’s no easy way in the playoffs. It’s all hard work and it’s always a tough route no matter who you’re playing.”

The two-time Grand Slam coach said NLEX is a tough rival because of coach Yeng Guiao.

“I think we, coaches, try to avoid certain coaches in the playoffs. And certainly, Yeng Guiao is one of those coaches you want to avoid,” Cone said.

Giving Cone a comforting thought are the return of Greg Slaughter and Sol Mercado and the addition of Art dela Cruz.

The trio had a good warm-up in Ginebra’s 112-93 demolition of TNT KaTropa during the final game of the elimination round on Sunday at the Big Dome.

“It’s important for us to get more minutes and more time and play hard with Greg in the lineup and also Sol, and also we started with Art in the lineup,” Cone added.

In the opening playoff match at 4:30 p.m., fourth seed Magnolia seeks the first semifinal seat against No. 5 Blackwater.

The top four teams need to win just once to advance.

Magnolia dealt Blackwater a 133-99 whipping on Oct. 10 but coach Bong Ramos said the loss was a thing of the past.

“Our first meeting is history now,” said Ramos. “This is the more important game.”

Unlike Magnolia, which last played Oct. 28, Blackwater lost an exhausting match to Phoenix on Sunday, 91-97. —PBA.PH