SAN Miguel enters another acid test on Friday when it faces Barangay Ginebra in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
PBA schedule today February 17
The Beermen clash with the Gin Kings at 5:45 p.m.
San Miguel is on top of the team standings along with TNT with a 6-1 record, with a win moving them closer to a quarterfinals berth.
The Ginebra clash, however, is in the middle of a three-game, five-day swing for San Miguel, and head coach Jorge Gallent said it will be a tough match even after it defeated NorthPort, 145-132.
“This week will be very tough for us but it will test our character,” Gallent said. “We just have to play one game at a time. We have to be sharp against them.”
“Those are the 50-50 games,” Gallent said. “We have to play hard because if we stay sluggish against teams like that, we will have problems.”
Ginebra holds a 3-1 win-loss record, with all of those games coming from a four-game week. The Gins lost to Magnolia, 118-88, last Sunday, and head coach Tim Cone said the hectic schedule took its toll on them in the contest.
This time, Ginebra gets the benefit of a four-day break entering the contest against San Miguel.
The first match of Friday’s doubleheader is expected to be equally intense with TNT facing Meralco at 3 p.m.
The Tropang GIGA are also out to maintain first place in the second game of new import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
The former six-year NBA veteran had an outstanding debut with the squad after registering 37 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in TNT’s 138-116 win over Blackwater last Wednesday.
Meralco is aiming to get back to its winning ways after losing to San Miguel, 94-86, last February 9 to go down to 3-2.
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