Lessons from Meralco loss keeps Ginebra on its toes ahead of match vs Barako

“Kailangan talaga laging focused at determinado,” says Ginebra coach Ato Agustin, pictured with team manager Al Chua. “Ayaw naming maulit `yung laro namin against Meralco.” Jerome Ascano

SKIDDING Barako Bull knows Barangay Ginebra’s confidence is so high going to their PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup encounter on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Not lost on Energy coach Bong Ramos was the fact the Kings are coming off a huge 97-95 come-from-behind win over three-time defending champion Talk `N Text behind the game-winning three-pointer of big man Japeth Aguilar.

“They just came from a come-from-behind win against Talk `N Text, meaning their level of confidence is high,” said Ramos of the Kings, who are currently in solo second at 4-1 behind league-leader Petron (6-0).

In contrast, Barako Bull is currently on a free fall after winning its first two games of the season. The Energy are on a three-game losing skid, including a 92-77 rout at the hands of Air21 in their last outing.

The string of losses pulled down Barako to the lower half of the standings with a 2-3 (win-loss) slate.

Still, that doesn’t dampen the mood of Ramos and the rest of the Energy going to their 8 p.m. encounter with the league’s most popular ballclub.

“We have to keep the game close so we might have a chance,” he said. “We just have to do our assignments and focus on the things we want to do.”

But Ginebra coach Ato Agustin is definitely looking to ride the momentum of the Kings’ amazing win over the Tropang Texters in a game that saw them fight back from as much as a 14-point deficit.

“Kailangan talaga laging focused at determinado,” he said. “Ayaw naming maulit `yung laro namin against Meralco.”

The Kings won all their first three games of the tournament, but played complacent against the Bolts and suffered a 100-87 beating.

But they obviously got over the hump quickly following that thrilling victory over the Tropang Texters, which Aguilar highlighted by nailing the winning basket in the final 1.1 seconds and then blocking a possible game-tying shot by Ranidel De Ocampo at the buzzer.