Elite squads Barangay Ginebra and TNT KaTropa meet in a virtual playoff duel in the penultimate play date of the PBA Governors Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra seeks an automatic Top Four windup while TNT tries to muddle up the race as the two teams clash in an explosive Petron Blaze Saturday Special.
The Kings chase a win that automatically hands them a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals while the Texters go for a win that will forge a jam between these two teams at 8-3 at the close of their stints in the single-round-robin elimination phase.
Game time is at 5:15 p.m.
At 8-2, the Kings are still in a must-win situation to avoid complications of a tie.
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A loss to TNT KaTropa may even put Ginebra in danger of missing the Top Four in case they end up in a five-way logjam with Meralco, NLEX and San Miguel at 8-3.
Thus, both squads are only expected to go hard at each other in this critical tiff.
"It's turning out to be a must-win for us if we want to advance to the Top Four. So that makes this game crucial," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. "Last game before the playoffs - it's time for us to put our best foot forward."
TNT coach Nash Racela said Ginebra has a lot of weapons in its arsenal, but they will find ways to match up.
Surely, Kelly Williams, Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario have tough task on their shoulders versus Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and Joe Devance.
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The Ginebra defenders, meanwhile, will have to be on their toes versus TNT gunners Jason Castro, RR Pogoy and Ryan Reyes, and do-it-all import Glen Rice Jr.
"TNT's speed and quickness is always a tough matchup for us, so we'll have to find ways to slow them down," said Cone.
The Texters are riding the momentum of a three-game run while the Kings are coming off an 89-82 thwarting of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Justin Brownlee provided an early spark while LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson helped deliver the finishing kick as Ginebra topped Rain or Shine, 89-82, to reclaim the solo lead heading into the homestretch of the elims.
