Games Friday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — Converge vs TNT
5:45 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Ginebra
Solidifying their hold of the third spot will be the ultimate mission when Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Converge and TNT Tropang Giga see action in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings will try to overcome the danger of falling into the trap of getting beaten by upset-conscious Terrafirma when they see action at 5:45 p.m. while the FiberXers tackle the Tropang Giga in the 3 p.m. appetizer.
Ginebra, Converge, and TNT are seeking to break free from a three-way logjam at the third to fifth spots as they are all carrying identical 3-2 win-loss marks.
Guest team Bay Area remains on top with only one loss in seven matches while Magnolia is not far behind with 5-1 following a 103-97 loss to the Kings on 23 October.
But against the winless Terrafirma team, which is out to snap a 22-game losing skid, Ginebra coach Tim Cone knows the danger that they are facing.
“I’m concerned on the kind of game they’re going to bring and the focus that they have. They did bring that against Phoenix. We didn’t bring that (to Phoenix) when we lost that game,” Cone said.
“Terrafirma is going to play its best game against us. Their best game of the conference will always be against Ginebra.”
Cone added that playing against them — the crowd favorites — squeezes out the best out of their foes.
“When we were in Alaska, our best game in the conference is always against Ginebra. Same as with San Mig when we were up against Ginebra,” he said.
“Why? Because we have the most media attention and it’s a time when we can really showcase ourselves. That’s the blessing and the curse that you have.”
Cone speaks based on experience.
Terrafirma pulled off a king-size upset win over Ginebra, 95-90, during the second bubble tournament at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga on 3 of September 2021.
Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history with 24 titles, believes the demand to play great basketball every game each time the Kings step on the court.
“As we say against Ginebra, playing good is not good enough,” Cone said.
“We have to play great every night because teams are going to come out and play great against us. That’s the way it is. That’s the reality. We talked about that a lot that we’re not going to have easy nights because teams are going to bring their best games.”
