BOLTS, KINGS ON COLLISION COURSE

BOLTS, KINGS ON COLLISION COURSE
Published on December 4, 2011


Meralco and crowd darling Brgy. Ginebra seeks to bolster their campaign of still finishing in the top two as the two collide Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts are coming off a pulsating 100-98 victory over the Powerade Tigers while the Kings, arguably the most popular basketball club in the country today, pulled off an awe-inspiring 91-89 win over the Petron Blaze Boosters making their fight more interesting.

The win weighs heavier for Meralco, currently at No. 4 with an 8-5 (win-loss) record which has a stronger chance of accomplishing the feat if it could beat Brgy. Ginebra in their 4 p.m. encounter and hope and pray that only one or none reach the 10-win plateau to force ties atop the heap.

Defending champion Talk N' Text leads the way with a 9-3 card, closely followed by reigning Governors Cup titlist Petron Blaze and resurgent B-Meg, both bearing identical 9-4 slates.

The Kings had almost the same scenario as they're just a couple of wins behind the Bolts with a 6-5 mark and would need to sweep all their remaining games against the Barako Bull Energy on Dec. 8, the Tropang Texters on Dec. 11 and this one.

"We still have a game left against Ginebra and we hope we still have the same intensity and will to win," said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

The same intensity Gregorio was mentioning was the ones they displayed when his Bolts survived the feisty Powerade Tigers in a gripping 100-98 win two days ago.

Sol Mercado and Mark Cardona fired 23 and 17 points, respectively, but more than their offensive heroics, the two made their teammates look good by sharing the ball as the two wound up with a combined 11 assists.(jv)

Source: PBA.ph

The scores:

GINEBRA 81- Cortez 14, Tubid 13, Caguioa 13, Villanueva 11, Canaleta 9, Wilson W. 6, Mamaril 6, Intal 5, Lbagala 4, Wilson J. 0, Menk 0.

MERALCO 71 - Mercado 22, Cardona 16, Espinas 7, Macapagal 7, Isip 6, Yee 5, Hugnatan 4, Lanete 2, Omolon 2, Ballesteros 0, Borboran 0, Taulava 0.

Quarters: 22-15, 36-27, 59-50, 81-71