Barangay Ginebra and Meralco duke it out in a vital tiff Wednesday, with the Gin Kings jockeying for position in the lead pack and the Bolts trying to improve spot in the middle of the team standings heading to the homestretch of the PBA Philippine Cup elims.
The Kings have been the dominant team versus the Bolts in their Governors' Cup finals rivalry and will try to extend the dominance in this face-off with the end goal of finishing in the Top Two for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Game time is 6 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum., the mainer in the Wednesday twin-bill kicking off the final 10 days of hostilities in the single-round-robin elims.
At 6-2, Ginebra is assured of a quarters entry but is in a heated fight for that quarters bonus versus San Miguel Beer (8-1), TNT Tropang Giga (8-3), Blackwater (5-2), Magnolia (5-3) and even Meralco (4-3).
For the Bolts, the immediate goal is to enter the quarterfinals and get to the best-of-three series, if not the twice-to-beat spot.
The Kings and the Bolts pursue their respective bids still sans coaches Tim Cone and Norman Black.
Ginebra suffered its first loss in three outings under sub coach Richard del Rosario the last time against TNT, 92-106, while Meralco let coach Black to have some peace of mind and comfort in the US with the Bolts winning under caretaker Luigi Trillo versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 77-73.
The son rose for his father and his ailing grandmother there in the US as Aaron Black poured in a game-high 20 points in leading the Bolts to their four-point decision over the E-Painters.
"My grandmother is sick right now that's why my dad's not here so that's big for me," said Aaron.
Trillo, meanwhile, said it's about the team staying positive through its struggles.
Trillo will now be working with Ronnie Magsanoc who is back from his chores with Gilas Pilipinas in the recent FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.
From their shattering loss to the Tropa, the Kings chase a turnaround path, hoping to stay right behind the Beermen. Another loss will drop them down to fourth.
