Ginebra. BMEG in crucial Manila Clasico encounter

Barangay Ginebra guns for the “win four-of-five” incentive against B-MEG in a crucial encounter in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings and the Llamados meet at 6:30 p.m. with the former trying to secure at least a playoff for the second finals seat.

In a non-bearing opening game, Meralco (5-8) and dethroned champion Petron Blaze (6-7) battle for pride at 4:15 p.m.

Ginebra is unbeaten in the semis with a 3-0 mark and 8-4 overall record to tie B-MEG for the second spot, just a game-behind leader Rain or Shine (9-3).

The Llamados had a chance to catch the Elasto Painters for the top spot but were denied by the Bolts last Friday, 104-101, to absorb their first loss in the semis in three games.

“We have to pick up our intensity and focused a notch higher because B-MEG would for sure be raring to come back strong after the last night’s setback,” said Kings coach Tanquingcen.

“We have to keep our focus on what’s ahead of us.”

The Llamados blew an important game that could have put them in the best position for a possible second straight finals appearance.

“It would have been nice to get that game against Meralco, which would have put us a game ahead of Ginebra and taken some of the pressure off the game for us, but now we just got into it even up with the
Kings,” said B-MEG coach Tim Cone.

“That Meralco loss was painful, but it didn’t kill us or our chances and what does not kill you makes you stronger,” he added. “We’ll see if we can live up to that.”