E-Painters, Kings, B Pier, NLEX seek crucial wins

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine tries to stay right behind the leaders while Barangay Ginebra, Globalport and NLEX break their deadlock at fifth place as they figure in an explosive twinbill in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome today.

The Batang Pier, featuring new import Derrick Caracter, tangle with the Road Warriors at 3 p.m. then the Elasto Painters and the Gin Kings collide at 5:15 p.m.

Stopped on their tracks by the San Miguel Beermen in a emotional match Friday, the E-Painters hope to bounce back and stay in the fight for the Top Two and the twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

The E-Painters, however, are likely to face another tough test against a Ginebra team out to go above the .500 mark again.

Like Ginebra, NLEX and Globalport eye a fifth win against four losses in today’s crucial bill.

On the eve of the match, the Batang Pier entered into a trade deal with the Alaska Milk Aces, acquiring Gabby Espinas in exchange for Noy Baclao.   

Ginebra and Rain or Shine got off to a wrong foot at the resumption of play following the Puerto Princesa All-Star festivities with the Gin Kings bowing to the NLEX Road Warriors, 90-96, Wednesday then the Elasto Painters succumbing against the San Miguel Beermen, 114-129, Friday.

Both are aching to bounce back.

It’s a must-win game for the E-Painters if they’re to stay in the hunt for the Top Two.

And it’s equally important for the Gin Kings who are currently tied at fifth to seventh places with the Globalport Batang Pier and the NLEX Road Warriors at 4-4, just half-game ahead of the Barako Bull Energy and the Kia Carnival at 4-5.

The E-Painters had a shot at the lead against the Beermen but yielded the game as they were badly beaten by former import AZ Reid.

Adding insult to injury was the taunting they got from Reid towards the end of the match.

But Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao didn’t let it pass, engaging Reid in a verbal tussle that saw both draw technical infractions. Guiao was tossed out of the contest for incurring a second “T” in nudging Reid in an in-bound play right in front of the RoS bench.

Reid later admitted he should have been more respectful.

The Kings, meanwhile, didn’t have an answer to Al Thornton’s 50-point explosion as Ginebra dropped its face-off with NLEX.

Thornton put in a virtual one-man show with not a single NLEX player scoring a double-digit output.

“Na-convert niya lahat nung mga mahirap na shot e. Talagang swak na swak pa. Galing sa ikot, spin, fadeaway, shoot. Anong magagawa namin dun di ba,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.

Held to just two points in the opening period, Thornton turned unstoppable in the next three quarters, making one amazing shot here, an incredible play there and frolicking just everywhere as the Road Warriors foiled the Kings’ bid for a fifth win in their last six games.

The Kings came out strong from the All-Star break, dominating the first half before slowing down in the third quarter then fading away as Thornton completely took over the game at the finish.