BLACKWATER and TNT resume their PBA Philippine Cup campaign on Labor Day, both seeking important wins in a bid to boost their respective playoff chances.
The Bossing have a huge task staring them in the face as they take on unbeaten league-leader San Miguel Beermen in the first game of a doubleheader at the Philsports Arena, while the Tropang Giga battle the also-ran Converge FiberXers in the featured match.
Team standings
San Miguel 9-0
Barangay Ginebra 7-3
NLEX 5-4
Magnolia 5-4
TNT 5-4
Rain or Shine 5-5
Terrafirma 5-5
Meralco 5-5
NorthPort 5-6
Blackwater 3-6
Phoenix 3-7
Converge 1-9
A rundown of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
SMB vs Blackwater
When: May 1, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
DO-OR-DIE FOR BOSSING
A loss for Blackwater meant outright eliminations in playoffs race. And the team has to do where nine others before them failed – beat the mighty Beermen. The 3-6 Bossing were on the verge of halting their losing skid Saturday after battling back from a 23-point deficit and led Northport by six in the final 1:42 of the game. But Arvin Tolentino came with clutch baskets down the stretch to win it for the Batang Pier to send Blackwater reeling to its sixth straight loss.
ARWIND SANTOS RETIREMENT JERSEY
With a 9-0 record and the No. 1 spot already locked up for a twice-to-beat playoffs advantage, San Miguel has nothing to lose against Blackwater. Still, the Beermen are on target to complete a sweep of the eliminations and at the same time, would want to make the moment a memorable one for former teammate Arwind Santos, whose jersey No. 29 will be retired by the franchise in a simple ceremony at halftime.
TNT vs. Converge
When: May 1, 7:30
Where: Philsports Arena
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
TNT WON’T MAKE IT TO NO.2
The 5-4 Tropang Giga still have two games left in the eliminations including this one against the FiberXers. And while mathematically, they can reach seven wins by sweeping their remaining assignments, it remains difficult for the team to catch up with second-running Ginebra (7-3) which still has a game left against NLEX. Even in the event of TNT tying Ginebra at 7-4 if the Kings lose to the Red Warriors, coach Tim Cone and his boys will still beat the Tropang Giga for the twice-to-beat bonus by virtue of their 87-83 head-to-head win.
ONE LAST LOOK AT OLD CONVERGE
It’s the last game of the FiberXers for the season and it could be the last time fans will be seeing this Converge roster as the franchise is expected to make a major revamp for Season 49 following a disastrous 2-19 record going to the game against TNT. The silver lining though, is the franchise being assured already of getting the no. 1 overall pick in the rookie draft this July.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
