ALMOST two months after their Commissioner's Cup semifinal clash, Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort square off again Wednesday, both out to pick up the pieces and start again, following shattering losses the last time out.
The Gin Kings hardly got into the fight in a 93-104 beatdown from the San Miguel Beermen on Friday while the Batang Pier are smarting from blowout losses to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (96-113) and the Blackwater Bossing (98-120).
Both are in the process of trying to get back into the groove as they're barely back in action after going a bit deep in the second conference playoffs.
Tight and sloppy in their early Philippine Cup outings, both hope they have shaken off the rust and can play a bit loose as they face off at 7:30 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Ginebra is at 1-1 while NorthPort at 1-2 entering the battle - a rematch after the Gin Kings disposed of the Batang Pier in five games of a Commissioner's Cup best-of-seven semis waltz.
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Of course, this is an entirely different game with the Kings without Justin Brownlee and the Batang Pier sans Kadeem Jack, the main man in their league-leading 9-3 finish in the Commissioner's Cup elims.
From the looks of things, it could be a tough, tough struggle for Arvin Tolentino and his teammates minus Jack.
They actually showed good promise in a 97-75 conference debut versus the Terrafirma Dyip before being torn apart by the Elasto Painters and the Bossing.
Coach Tim Cone, meanwhile, expected their long night against the Beermen although they had their own winning debut also against the Dyip (101-80).
"The problem with coming late into the conference is you're not as sharp as some of the other teams," noted Cone then.
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"You do get a longer break which is important for our guys to be able to rest their bodies. But still, when you get back, the games come a lot faster and you've got to make up that time.
"Also, you're playing teams who have a rhythm already and made some adjustments to their game, to the rotations. And we haven't been able to do that," he added.(SB)
