Games on Friday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5:15 pm – Meralco vs Rain or Shine
7:30 pm – Barangay Ginebra vs NLEX
IMPORT-LESS Rain or Shine (ROS) is emboldened as fullforce Meralco brags about Jaylen Johnson’s suspension as they battle for sole lead in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mr. Johnson, the impressive 6-foot-9 reinforcement of the Elasto Painters will serve a one-game ban after a one-on-one punch last week against TNT Tropang 5G forward Glenn Khobuntin, who was slapped with a two-game suspension and a P70,000 fine.
The American ace, who also received a P50,000 fine, was ejected from the previous game and missed the last six minutes of the game but ROS of the Philippines held on to escape with a 112-109 victory against Tropang 5G led by 7-foot-3 Bol Bol with a 2-0 slate.
Whether ROS has enough local firefighters to get the job done against a complete Meralco team led by another towering 7-foot-0 Marvin Jones will be tested at 5:15 pm before the big game between Ginebra (1-0) and NLEX (2-1) at 7:30 pm.
The Elasto Painters and the Bolts, along with the Gin Kings, remain the only undefeated team in the 13-team league so far and the road to the top is clear after Phoenix handed surprise leader Terrafirma its first loss, 133-105, in a temporary tie for No. 1 with a 3-1 slate.
ROS will miss the ratings of Mr. Johnson’s 33 points and 16.5 rebounds but that’s what it is for head coach Yeng Guiao, whose appeal to lift his import suspension was denied by the PBA this week.
“We have to play without him,” Mr. Short Guiao on their way in a bid to remain unbeaten and clinch the pole. Before TNT was honored by former NBA player Mr. Bol, his wards also took out the rugby under the favorite group of visitors Macau Black Knights, 116-109.
Mr. Guiao will be banking on Adrian Nocum, who was named PBA Press Corps Player of the Week after his heroics against TNT, to lead alongside Caelan Tiongson, Jhonard Clarito, Luis Villegas, Santi Santillan and Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti.
Like ROS, Meralco is off to a good start after defeating Converge, 109-88, and Phoenix, 93-86.
CJ Cansino, Chris Banchero, Cliff Hodge and captain Chris Newsome have been stable under the wings of Mr. Jones in the first two games but the X-factor of Meralco will be its main player in Jason Brickman, who is slowly but surely finding his good way after limited action at the beginning of his conference due to a groin injury.
Mr. Brickman, age 7th A full-time pick to finish his MPBL career with Abra during the Philippine Cup, he scored just three points in his debut but the 34-year-old general led the way with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Fuel Masters.
But repeating this against a spirited ROS without their import will be no walk in the park for the Bolts, warned head coach Luigi Trillo.
“Sometimes they say that is an advantage, but sometimes that can be a disadvantage.
“There have been times when they didn’t play with imports and they won games, so we know that their chemistry is there without saying that we have to use these opportunities, players are injured, they are suspended, we need to take advantage of it and get locked up.” – John Bryan Ulanday
