BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel—down with injuries to its starters—hopes to keep stretch its winning streak to three games when it clashes with NorthPort on Friday in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Commissioner’s Cup champion Gin Kings are coming off a 114-111 come-from-behind win over the NLEX Road Warriors to stay pristine last Wednesday and they are hoping to flash the same intensity in thheir 5:45 p.m. against a returning Robert Bolick and the Batang Pier.
Cone thanked his second and third stringers Jeremiah Gray, Nards Pinto and Raymond Aguilar for stepping up in the absence of big men Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger, who are nursing knee injuries.
“Next man mentality has been a big thing around the world in basketball, it provides an opportunity to step in and get extra minutes and extra touches,” Cone said. “It also asks guys who are playing regular minutes that they have to step up their game.”
Import Justine Brownlee also gave debuting NLEX import Wayne Selden Jr. a rude welcome by scoring 44 points and grabbing 16 rebounds with six assists.
But the Batang Pier, who are winless in four games, will be parading new import Kevin Murphy, who replaced Marcus Weathers.
Bolick also agreed to play for NorthPort up to the end of season.
Magnolia, meanwhile, goes for its first win when it squares off with Phoenix Super LPG at 3 p.m.
The Hotshots (0-3) let go of import Eric McCree and tapped former Terrafirma reinforcement Antonio Hester, who cut short his stint for Zamboanga Valientes in the ongoing Asean Basketball League invitational.
Phoenix (1-4) is hoping to get back on winning track along with import Du’ Vaughn Maxwell, who averaged 26 points, 14.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.4 blocks in five games.