PHOENIX Super LPG and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel clash for the eighth and last quarterfinals spot in a sudden-death playoff on Saturday in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The winner of the 4:35 p.m. game will face No. 1 TNT Tropang Giga in the quarterfinals. The KaTropa own a twice-to-beat advantage.
Phoenix and Terrafirma finished with 4-7 won-lost records in the eliminations, but the Fuel Masters beat the Dyip to the line because of the winner-over-the-other rule. Phoenix beat Terrafirma, 96-84, last September 9.
Matthew Wright, who averaged 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.00 assists in 10 games, is confident of getting back at the Gin Kings, who beat them, 87-94, in the elimination round.
“We’re very confident that we can win this time…we should have won that game [eliminations],” Wright told BusinessMirror on Friday.
“Ginebra didn’t do anything special this season. They have good players and a good coach [Tim Cone] that’s why they are successful,” Wright said. “But they didn’t do anything shocking.”
Phoenix power forward Vic Manuel is doubtful for Saturday’s game because of a groin injury.
Ginebra, on the other hand, stayed alive for the quarterfinals after Northport’s 122-94 win over Alaska on Thursday, the same day the Gin Kings lost to No. 2 Meralco Bolts, 66-79, that dropped them to a 4-7 record.
But Cone and the Gin Kings will have to face an inspired Phoenix side without Japeth Aguilar (medial collateral ligament) and Scottie Thompson (health and safety protocols).
“We have been given an unexpected reprieve, so we want to do our best and take advantage of it,” Cone said. “The guys know the road is tough, and has been tough, but it starts with one step. That step starts with our game against Phoenix.”
Thompson averaged 12.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 10 games, while Aguilar averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in eight games played in the Philippine Cup.
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