Gin Kings gun for quarters slot against ROS in Bahrain

Games on Wednesday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. – Converge vs NLEX
(Khalifa Sports City Stadium)
11:55 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Ginebra

BARANGAY GINEBRA shoots for two birds with one stone for its playoff aspirations against the league-leading Rain or Shine (ROS) as the PBA holds its second straight game at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Bahrain.

Game time is at 11:55 p.m. with the Gin Kings (5-4) seeking an outright quarterfinal berth against the Elasto Painters (8-2) while also staying in hunt for a top 4 finish and a twice-to-beat bonus.

Over at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, San Miguel Beermen (SMB) (7-2) also eyes to clinch the said incentive against the also-ran Terrafirma (1-9) at 5:15 p.m. while Converge (6-4) and NLEX (6-4) tangle for the similar bid at 7:30 p.m.

But all roads lead to the sprawling Middle East nation, where the streaking Gin Kings will try to join a crowded upperhalf of the 12-team standings at the homestretch.

ROS torched Magnolia, 101-92, behind 17 triples in the first PBA game in Bahrain on Tuesday morning to leave only three bonuses left up for grabs among multiple teams, including Ginebra.

A win by Ginebra would eliminate Titan (4-6) from contention regardless of their final match this Sunday and propel them into the thick of the race that features SMB, NLEX, Converge, TNT Tropang 5G (6-3), Magnolia (6-4) and Meralco (5-4) for those three incentives.

“These guys know the magnitude of our remaining games in terms of a big picture of getting a playoff spot and still, maybe getting luck to the top 4,” said coach Tim Cone.

“It’s a recognition and understanding of the magnitude of our last two games. It’s something we could not split or lose. We need these games desperately.”

Ginebra, from a shaky 3-4 campaign to go down as low as 10^th spot, took care of its last three games against already eliminated ball clubs in Phoenix, 102-93, Blackwater, 103-85, and Terrafirma, 108-77, to revive its top 4 hopes.

Mr. Cone, however, is well aware that it would not be a walk in the park to extend its hot tear against ROS, which has been proving its stature as the emerging power in the PBA.

“We know we got a tough assignment in front of us in Rain or Shine. They’re the league leaders and really playing clutch basketball. They’re really playing well when they have to down the stretch. That makes them a real high-character team, which you expect from Yeng Guiao,” he warned.

With more overseas games in the pipeline, the PBA’s stint in Bahrain is the second out-of-town trip this season after San Miguel beat Ginebra, 83-81, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as part of the celebration of the league’s golden anniversary as the oldest pro league in Asia. — John Bryan Ulanday