Barangay Ginebra seeks to start a run while Blackwater eyes an end to a slump as they lock horns in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Sunday.
Being the last team to open their campaign in the season, the Gin Kings are faced with a tight schedule right away. They play a second game in three nights as they tangle with the Blackwater Bossing at 6:15 p.m.
In their previous back-to-back assignments, Tony Bishop and his teammates took off with a 100-86 triumph over the Converge FiberXers then went down to a sorry downfall, 91-93, versus the Magnolia Hotshots in a game where they squandered a huge 26-point lead.
They face another quick turnaround game versus the Bossing after a 107-102 escape win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday.
For coach Tim Cone, little preparation time is a concern especially against the Blackwater side aching to snap a three-game skid.
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But at least, coach Jeff Cariaso's troops are also in a quick turnaround, coming from a 111-106 loss to the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters also on Friday.
It was the Bossing's third straight loss oddly after a rousing 103-84 thrashing of the Converge FiberXers on Nov. 8.
They bowed to the Meralco Bolts, 91-84, in their next game then suffered a second loss in a row at the hands of the Terrafirma Dyip, 97-87.
The absence of the injury-hit Baser Amer is a gaping hole Blackwater is finding hard to cover. Same is the case on the absence of Yousef Taha.
Ginebra has its own health woes but the Kings are coping with their deep bench.
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A big key the last time was free-agent acquisition Maverick Ahanmisi with his 21-point effort capped by a big trey down the stretch in their five-point decision over the Elasto Painters.
Bishop was a lead force with 25 markers and 12 boards as Christian Standhardinger (19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists) and Scottie Thompson (12 markers, 10 boards and eight dish-offs) were major contributors with their all-around numbers.
Japeth Aguilar was the fifth guy in the Ginebra starting unit, chipping in 13 points and seven rebounds.(SB)
