By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
HAVING won only two-fifths of its matches to date in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup, defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings are looking to get out of its early struggles when they return to action on Wednesday.
The Kings (2-3) are to take on the Rain or Shine Elastopainters (4-3) in the final game at 6 p.m. of scheduled Philippine Basketball Association matches at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“Every game, every season is a different journey. We have struggled early in this tournament and it’s a little bit frustrating. But that’s part of the journey. And we still feel we can get out of this and contend once again for the title,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone on the Power & Play radio program at the weekend.
The defending champs were only able to play one game in the resumption of the All-Filipino Cup last week, losing to the Terrafirma Dyip, 95-90, on Sept. 3.
Barangay Ginebra was held off by a determined Dyip team in the second half en route to the upset.
All Kings starters scored in double digits, led by Christian Standhardinger, in said contest, but it was not enough to overcome Terrafirma, which got a career game from Juami Tiongson.
The team was supposed to play the Meralco Bolts on Sept. 5, but it was postponed hours before tip-off in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols.
Meanwhile, opening Wednesday’s proceedings is the match between the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (5-2) and the streaking NLEX Road Warriors (4-2) at 12:30 p.m.
The Hotshots lost to league-leading TnT Tropang Giga, 83-76, on Sunday, their second defeat in their last three matches.
Magnolia opened the tournament hot, winning four straight.
NLEX, for its part, is making waves despite not having some key pieces in the semi-bubble tournament in Bacolor, notably do-it-all guard Kiefer Ravena.
The Road Warriors have won three games in a row, the last one over the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 94-76, on Sept. 4, to thrust themselves to solo fourth place in the race.
Also playing at 3 p.m. are TnT (6-0) and the San Miguel Beermen (3-2). The Beermen return after their scheduled game against the Alaska Aces on Saturday was postponed also because of league protocols.