By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE hottest team right now in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, is out to claim another victory when it takes on the struggling Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters in the 7 p.m. main game today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Lost in their debut in the season-ending PBA conference, the Kings (4-1) have been unstoppable since, winning their next four games to make their way to the top of the standings.
They hope to continue their streak against the Fuel Masters (2-6), which unfortunately have regressed since opening their campaign with a promising 2-0 start.
Benefitting from a full complement of players, Barangay Ginebra has been doing it collectively, particularly on the offensive end where it is second in the league with an average of 105.2 points per game.
Import Justin Brownlee is leading the team with norms of 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, five assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Guard LA Tenorio has been good for 16.8 points and 4.8 assists while comebacking big man Greg Slaughter is tallying 14.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.
Joe Devance (12 ppg), Japeth Aguilar (9.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 1.2 bpg) and Scottie Thompson (7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 8.6 apg) have also been doing their big share for the Kings in their solid campaign to date.
Barangay Ginebra enters the game today off a victory out of town over the slumping Alaska Aces, 94-80, in Cebu.
As has been the case for much of the tournament, contributions came from different directions for the Kings, which led from start to finish and never really allowed the Aces to get it going.
LOST SIXTH STRAIGHT
But while the Kings are having it great of late, the same cannot be said for the Fuel Masters, which have lost six straight matches.
It has not helped Phoenix that explosive original import Eugene Phelps has been sidelined by foot injury and the team needing to field in a new import in Brandon Brown.
The Fuel Masters also added new players in recent mid-tournament trades, including Jeff Chan, which has Phoenix further adjusting on the fly.
Phoenix’s recent loss was at the hands of the TNT KaTropa, 110-103, last Friday.
Mr. Brown had a monster game of 49 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, five steals and four blocks.
But after him though, hardly any major support came from the locals which made it more difficult for the team to overcome the KaTropa.
Meanwhile in the opening game at 4:15 p.m., TNT (3-2) takes on the Blackwater Elite (3-3).
The KaTropa won in their previous game against Phoenix while the Elite are on a roll, having won three straight after opening their campaign with three losses in a row.