The momentum that they have built on back-to-back triumphs three weeks ago could be gone.
For the Barangay Ginebra Kings, it's a virtual fresh start, and they hope to start on the right foot as they take on the Alaska Milk Aces in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo tonight.
Coach Tim Cone and his troops are among the teams behind joint leaders the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (7-1) and the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters (7-1).
At 3-2, the Gin Kings are very much in contention for the top two and its reward of a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Before the league break to give way to the final window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the Alaska Milk Aces had also won their last two outings.
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But they came out flat from the two-week breather and reeled to an 80-94 loss to the Fuel Masters. They're now at 2-2.
The Gin Kings and the Aces clash at 6:45 p.m., before which the PBA presents the World Cup-bound Gilas team to the crowd.
Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson had their participation in Gilas' successful drive in the qualifiers, with the former playing in 11 of 12 games and the latter strutting his stuff in five outings.
And even with a few days of rest from their the stint in the last FIBA window, Aguilar and Thompson are expected to rejoin the Kings and play their usual roles.
The Kings are raring pull a win versus an Alaska side struggling minus injury-hit key players Vic Manuel, Jvee Casio and Kevin Racal.
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But the Ginebra coach still expects a tough grind, well aware the Aces are a fighting team that never quits.
With their badly crippled lineup, the Aces have blasted the Columbian Dyip, 94-72, and topped the Blackwater Elite, 103-101.
The Kings, meanwhile, clobbered the Dyip, 97-85, and dumped the Elite, 85-67, before taking a three-week rest. (SB)
