MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings will have one last chance to salvage its title-retention bid in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The defending champions Kings will face Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in a knockout game at 4:35 p.m. for the eighth and last quarterfinals seat, where they will have a twice-to-win disadvantage over the no.1 ranked team TNT Tropang Giga.
The Kings, which ended the eliminations with a 4-7 win-loss slate, failed to make it to the quarterfinals after a 79-66 loss to Meralco Bolts at the close of the eliminations on Thursday.
In fact, Barangay Ginebra’s shot at the last quarterfinals seat should be credited to the NorthPort Batang Pier, which made it possible with its 122-94 domination over Alaska Aces the other night.
Had the Batang Pier yielded the no-bearing game to the Aces last Thursday, it will be Terrafirma Dyip who will challenge the Fuel Masters for a spot in the final eight.
“At this point, we’re focused on only one thing – the game against Phoenix,” said Barangay Ginebra head coach Earl Timothy Cone. “We’ll prepare the best we can despite a limited lineup.”
Even with the latest opportunity, the Kings will still be shorthanded against the Fuel Masters with Japeth Aguilar still nursing an MCL injury and Earl Scottie Thompson under the league’s coronavirus disease 2019 health and safety protocols.
“It was a back break for us,” said the PBA Grand Slam coach. “Japeth is still doubtful with his knee injury, and I just hope that Scottie will return to us if ever we make it to the quarterfinals.”
The Kings were struggling this All-Filipino Conference despite the arrival of star center Christian Standhardinger in a blockbuster trade with Batang Pier for Gregory Slaughter during the offseason.
Their victories this season only came from win-less Blackwater Bossing (96-81), Batang Pier (87-85), Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (83-77), and the Fuel Masters (94-87)./PN
