Gin Kings, energy in win-or-go-home Governors’ Cup encounter

Gin Kings, energy in win-or-go-home Governors' CUp encounter

Thursday, 28 June 2012 19:33 Joel Orellana / Reporter



BARANGAY Ginebra head coach Siot Tanquingcen said, in plain and simple terms, his Gin Kings need to win games to move into the next round.

Ginebra battles Barako Bull on Friday in a virtually do-or-die contest for both teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings test the Energy in the 5:15 p.m. main game, while Petron Blaze shoots for an all-important victory against an eliminated Air21 side at 7:30 p.m.

“We just have to keep it simple. We win, we avoid any complication,” said Tanquingcen. “We have to play all out.”

The Kings are in the middle of the standings with a 4-4 win-loss record and a victory would put them in a better position for the next round. A loss would, at best, either engage them into a playoff for the No. 6 spot, or worse, get them eliminated.

Two teams are already out of the running, Alaska (2-7) and the Express (2-6), and two more will join them for an early vacation.

And that is something Barako Bull will try to avoid as coach Junel Baculi’s Energy, who are holding a 3-4 mark, need to sweep their last two assignments.

“This game is a must-win situation for us,” he said. “Our fate is on us. We have to execute our game plan to perfection and limit the production of their guards, especially [Mark] Caguioa.”

Caguioa exploded for 32 points in the Kings’ heartbreaking 113-111 loss to Talk ’N Text that denied them an entry in the next round.

Barako Bull is coming off a long break and a loss—against the Tropang Texters, 109-89. But Baculi knows Ginebra is also in do-or-die mode.

“We have to play above distractions, have mental toughness and bring our A-game. We haven’t had an A-game for a long time now,” he said.

The high-scoring LeRoy Hickerson will be pitted against Cedric Bozeman, who also tallied 32 markers in their previous game.

The locals will play a crucial role in the match with Tanquingcen hoping to draw production from the other Kings.

Baculi, on the other hand, needs an offensive-minded Willie Miller in the contest for the Energy to stand a chance against the Kings. He is also hoping that Danny Seigle’s offense comes alive against Ginebra.

The Boosters of coach Ato Agustin are also hoping to bounce back from a loss against a pressure-free Air21 five.

Petron is also carrying a 4-4 record and is coming off an ugly 103-82 defeat at the hands of league-leader Rain or Shine last Saturday in Dumaguete City.

The Express lost the opportunity to enter the semifinals via the backdoor after losing to Alaska, 110-80, last Wednesday to bomb out of the playoffs for the third-straight conference.



Source: Businessmirror.com.ph