Mga Laro Ngayon
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. Blackwater vs. Alaska
7 p.m. Star vs. Phoenix Petroleum
Team Standings: Rain or Shine (2-0); Meralco (2-0); Alaska (1-0); Phoenix (1-0); GlobalPort (0-1); Blackwater (0-1); NLEX (0-2); Mahindra (0-2); San Miguel (0-0); Ginebra (0-0); TNT (0-0); Star (0-0)
TATANGKAIN ngayon ng Alaska Aces at Phoenix Petroleum na matuhog ang ikalawang sunod na panalo at pagsalo sa liderato ng 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Makakasagupa ng Alaska ang Blackwater Elite ganap na alas-4:15 ng hapon sa Smart Araneta Coliseum habang maghaharap naman ang Phoenix at Star Hotshots dakong alas-7 ng gabi.
Asam ng Alaska na masundan ang 107-79 panalo kontra sa GlobalPort noong Sabado habang pilit na susundan ng Phoenix ang 118-116 double overtime win kontra Blackwater para makasalo sa ibabaw ng team standings ang Meralco at defending champion Rain or Shine na parehong may 2-0 record.
Alam ni Aces coach Alex Compton na hindi basta na lamang kalaban ang Elite na pumalag hanggang sa umabot pa ang laban sa dalawang extra period kontra Phoenix kahit wala ang isa nitong key player na si Arthur dela Cruz dahil sa injury.
“Blackwater is no longer an expansion franchise. They are a legitimate team,” sabi ni Compton.
“(Blackwater) Coach Leo (Isaac) has done a great job in building the team. They beat us last conference and we know we need to play exceptionally sharp,”
Dapat din aniya nilang paghandaan ang import ng Elite na si Greg Smith. Ang dating player ng Houston Rockets ay nagtala ng 37 puntos at 30 rebounds laban sa Fuel Masters.
“Now they have a powerhouse import. Stopping Smith is not likely, though hopefully we can contain him a little and still limit their local guys somehow. On the other side we have to take care of the basketball and really execute as a team,” sabi ni Compton.
Sasandigan ng Aces si Cory Jefferson na last-minute replacement kay Octavius Ellis. Dumating si Jefferson noong Huwebes at nagtala ng 21 puntos at 14 rebound kontra Globalport.
Makikilatis din ang import ng Star na si Tony Mitchell at ang bagong Phoenix reinforcement na si Jameel McKay. —Angelito Oredo