THE PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup enters a new week with the teams involved in Tuesday’s playdate coming off defeats and looking to get back on track.
Here is a preview.
PHOENIX SUPER LPG VS. BLACKWATER
When: Tuesday, July 28. 5:15 p.m
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Fuelmasters, Bossing coming off defeats
Phoenix Super LPG (3-1) goes back on the floor, looking to stay in first place in Group B after a 105-98 loss to Rain or Shine last Tuesday.
Blackwater (2-2), on the other hand, will look to snap a two-game losing streak after it was routed by Barangay Ginebra, 115-85, last Friday.
Expect comeback from Ricci
Ricci Rivero had a forgettable night against Rain or Shine where he was ejected from the game for accumulating an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical foul. He only had four points and three assists, after averaging 18 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the last two games prior to the Rain or Shine contest.
RK shackled
After scoring 20 points or more during the first three games of the conference, RK Ilagan was limited to 10 points in the loss to Ginebra. Ilagan had six steals in the game, but Barangay Ginebra limited Ilagan’s effectiveness as he took only eight shots from the field after averaging 15 attempts in the first three games.
TNT VS. CONVERGE
When: Tuesday, July 28. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
TNT on a slump
Reigning champion TNT is off to a cold start, losing its last two games to Titan Ultra, 103-87, and Terrafirma in overtime, 111-106, last Saturday. TNT now enters a stretch of games where the Tropang 5G will go up against projected contenders in Group A beginning with Converge on Tuesday.
FiberXers make switch
Converge has brought back Jamaal Franklin in time for the TNT game, replacing Jalen Hudson after the former TNT import underwhelmed by averaging only 12.3 points in four games including scoring 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting in Converge’s 128-122 loss to San Miguel last Wednesday. Franklin has already proven his caliber after playing for Converge in the 2023 Governors’ Cup.
Days still the import… for now
TNT will continue to parade Darius Days on Tuesday as the Tropang 5G did not submit a line-up change on the eve of the contest against Converge. Days had an off-night against Terrafirma after he scored just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field. Entering the game against Converge, Days is now averaging 18.0 points on 37 percent from the field.
Locals hold the fort
With their imports struggling, the locals of Converge and TNT are taking over.
For Converge, Justin Arana has been leading the locals, averaging 28.3 points and 8.0 rebounds after his 29-point, 5-rebound night against San Miguel. Justine Baltazar is averaging a double-double of 12.8 points and 10.0 rebounds, while Mikey Williams is also producing decent numbers of 12.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
With their top locals suffering injuries, RR Pogoy is leading the locals at 18.0 points a game, followed by Rey Nambatac with 15.7. Jordan Heading just had 29 points against Terrafirma, to up his average to 13.3, while Kim Aurin has also been chipping in with an average of 12.7.
The team with the best performing locals could come out victorious in Tuesday night's game.
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