PHOENIX Super LPG and Meralco square off in an important game in the home tretch of the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup elimination round at Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Macau, meanwhile, goes up against Converge in the Giant Pandas’ final game as guest team in the league.
Here is a preview of Friday’s doubleheader.
CONVERGE VS. MACAU
When: Friday, October 16. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Tune-up for playoffs
Converge battles Macau in what is expected to be another one-sided contest. The FiberXers, at fourth place with a 6-4 win-loss record, will look to stretch their winning streak to four as they prepare for the playoffs. In its bid for a better seeding come the quarterfinals, Converge will look to tie TNT in the team standings.
Converge is coming off a 152-119 win over Titan Ultra last Sunday where the FiberXers scored the most points in franchise history.
Macau bids farewell
Macau will play its final game in the PBA on Friday against Converge. With a 2-9 win-loss record, the guest team has been underwhelming, losing by an average margin of 57.5 points over the last two games.
Fresh from a triple double
Juan Gomez de Liano returns to the court, five days after notching a triple-double against Titan Ultra where he registered 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. With how Macau is playing over the past two games, don’t be surprised if Juan GDL does a similar feat on Friday.
PHOENIX SUPER LPG VS. MERALCO
When: Friday, October 16. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Crucial tiff
Phoenix Super LPG and Meralco duel in a game with quarterfinal implications. The Fuelmasters are in joint second with Rain or Shine in the Group B standings with a 4-3 win-loss record, but not far behind are the Bolts, who are at fourth place with a 4-5 slate. Both teams are in need of wins for their playoff bid, especially with Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater, both with 3-5 win-loss slates, right in their tail.
Long, long break
Phoenix Super LPG is the last team to see action since the league took a 53-day break for Gilas Pilipinas. The Fuelmasters last played on August 12 where they lost to Magnolia, 115-101 for a total of 65 days in between games. The Fuelmasters look to get their rhythm going early against a Bolts team that has already played a game against Blackwater, 120-115, last Tuesday.
SCENARIOS: Phoenix holds several playoff fates in its hands
New import
Marcellus Earlington is scheduled to make his PBA debut on Friday against Meralco. Earlington took over from BJ Johnson, who signed elsewhere following the long break. Earlington will look to fill the big shoes left by Johnson, who averaged 30.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks.
Big numbers from Jordon
Jordon Vardano showed once again that he is a good fit for Meralco after posting all-around numbers of 31 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks against Blackwater. In his debut against Barangay Ginebra last August, Vardano had similar numbers of 31 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. It will be a tough task for Phoenix to neutralize the Meralco import.
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