By Jonas Terrado
Team Standings W L
X-NLEX 7 1
X-TNT KaTropa 7 1
X-Meralco 6 2
X-San Miguel 6 3
Ginebra 5 3
Magnolia 5 4
Columbian 4 5
NorthPort 3 5
Alaska 3 6
Phoenix Pulse 2 7
Rain or Shine 2 7
Blackwater 2 8
X-clinched quarterfinals berth
Games Friday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Columbian vs Meralco
7 p.m. — TNT KaTropa vs Ginebra
Ray Parks Jr. tries to help co-leader TNT KaTropa secure a twice-to-beat advantage as he debuts for his new team against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Blackwater’s Ray Parks Jr. tries to drive past TNT’s KJ McDaniels, center, as Don Trollano, right, looks on. Parks will likely fill the void left by Jayson Castro as the KaTropa seek to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in his team debut. (PBA Images)
Attention in the 7 p.m. match will center on Parks, who was traded by the Blackwater Elite in exchange for Don Trollano, Tony Semerad and a 2021 first round draft pick.
TNT enters the match hoping to get back on the winning track after its 7-0 start ended two weeks ago with a 116-103 loss to fellow pacesetter NLEX at the same venue.
The KaTropa also play for the first time since Jayson Castro was sidelined for at least a month due to an ankle injury suffered against the Road Warriors.
Parks will likely fill the void left by Castro as he aims to replicate his 23-game average with Blackwater dating back to his PBA debut in the Commissioner’s Cup of 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals.
He will also look to exact vengeance on Ginebra after absorbing a 101-93 loss in his final appearance with Blackwater last Oct. 30 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Ginebra, meanwhile, needs a victory in order to stay in the race for the twice-to-beat incentive given to the top four teams after the eliminations.
Sunday’s 101-77 defeat at the hands of Meralco last Sunday dropped Ginebra’s record to 5-3 while San Miguel climbed to solo fourth with Wednesday’s 99-96 overtime win over Blackwater.
Meralco hopes to tighten its grip on the top spot against Columbian in the opener set at 4:30 p.m.
The Bolts are determined to ride on the momentum of their lopsided victories over the Beermen and Ginebra and improve their third-best 6-2 mark against the Dyip.
Columbian enters the game in solo seventh position at 4-5, needing a win to enhance its chances of gaining a quarters berth.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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