BARANGAY Ginebra and San Miguel Beer clash in the first Sunday mainer in the return of a live crowd at the Big Dome, with both sides eyeing a rebound from defeat at the hands of a similar foe - the TNT Tropang Giga.
The Gin Kings are now actually reeling from three straight losses, and they're aching to check their slump to pump back life in their title-retention bid in the PBA Governors' Cup.
The Kings and the Beermen collide at 6:45 p.m. in the last game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum before the league swings over to the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo to give way to the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifying games on Feb. 24-28 at the Big Dome.
It's expected to be a fierce showdown with the two teams out to improve their shaky spot in the Top Eight. They currently share seventh place with their identical 3-3 win-loss slates.
They both had a tough time against the fired-up Tropang Giga.
San Miguel suffered an 81-96 loss, seeing the debut of new import Orlando Johnson spoiled by TNT's efficient defense Wednesday.
Ginebra went down to a crashing 92-119 setback two nights later, the Kings' bid shattered by the Tropang Giga's torrid shooting from the arc.
Both are now hard-pressed to get back on track or they fall below the .500 mark at 3-4 and could face a hard time fighting for a twice-to-beat spot in the quarterfinals.
The Kings had been on a 3-0 run until being stopped on their tracks by the Magnolia Hotshots in their Christmas Day Manila Clasico duel. And they have gone without a win since then.
The Beermen, meanwhile, are 0-1 in the tournament play resumption. (SB)(PBA)
(Photo credits to: PBA)