Kings look to Boosters for help

by **Ginebra Tambayan** Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:34 am

Kings look to Boosters for help

BY NOLI CORTEZ

AN IRONIC twist of fate has left Ginebra relying not only on its own prowess but also on a former victim to enhance its chances of making it outright to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings battle Air21 today but will also be looking at some help from sister team Petron Blaze to secure a better shot when it plays off, as expected, for a top two finish.

The Boosters collide with Talk N Text in the other game winding up the eliminations. The team formerly known as San Miguel Beer is out of the running for a playoff spot and would finish at eighth at best, its conference not helped any by a heartbreaking last-second loss to Ginebra last Feb. 12.

Should the Kings and Boosters win, B-Meg will claim the No. 1 spot and the former faces the Tropang Texters for the No. 2 slot and the other automatic semis seat. Should TNT win, Ginebra and B-Meg square off for the No. 2 position.

Ginebra lost to the Llamados by 16 but won over the Texters by three.

Although Kings coach Siot Tanquingcen refused to admit it out loud, it is obvious he wants to take on TNT.

The three-time champion coach also just wants to focus on the task at hand.

"Wala namang mapagpipilian," he said. "Any of those teams is really tough. But just to have that opportunity, malaking bagay na iyon. Pero di na pinag-iisipan kung sino ang makaka-play off, ‘yung pinagpipiliian kung sino. Basta me oportunidad pa rin."

The Express have lost three straight and the Kings have won back-to-back games, but Tanquingcen wouldn’t put it past their opponents to pull off the unexpected.

"Mahirap kalaban ang Air21, fight ng fight sila at mga bata," said Tanquingcen. "Also, kahit napagtatalo sila of late, kahit paano dominant pa rin naman si (Express import) Marcus (Douthit)."

One major factor, Tanquingcen added, is for his team to continue doing what they have displayed so well against TNT and Barako Bull.

"It is imperative we focus on our defense because that’s been the key to our recent wins," he said.

Texters coach Chot Reyes admitted his team is in for a very tough test.

"Huge game as we’re attempting to grab the No. 1 seeding which I’m sure the SMC group is hell-bent on denying us. Petron will go all-out to help its sister teams and rightfully so," said Reyes. "We must play our best to have a chance."

Petron has lost three straight and will not make the post-elims play in the mid-season tourney for the second straight year. But it has the chance to go out in a blaze of glory.

"Basta all-out pa rin kami," said Petron coach Ato Agustin.

Of additional interest should be how Boosters import Will McDonald atones for his big-time boo-boo in his league debut against Barako last March 21.

McDonald was slapped with a flagrant foul-penalty 2 after slamming the ball at Mick Pennisi’s forehead, causing his ejection with still 8:45 left in the second period and the Boosters went on to lose 80-94. He was subsequently fined P20,000 by Commissioner Chito Salud.

Source: Malaya.com.ph