Games on Friday
(Ynares Center Antipolo)
5:15 p.m. – Converge vs Macau
7:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs Meralco
Team Standings
Group A
*NLEX 9-2
*San Miguel 8-3
*TNT 7-4
*Converge 6-4
Terrafirma 4-7
Titan 2-9
Macau 2-9
Group B
*Magnolia 6-3
Rain or Shine 4-3
Phoenix 4-3
Meralco 4-5
Ginebra 3-5
Blackwater 3-5
*clinched quarterfinals
CAN NEW import Marcellus Earlington finish what BJ Johnson started and further fuel Phoenix’s drive for the crucial stages of the PBA Governors’ Cup?
Mr. Earlington is taking over from Mr. Johnson as the Fuel Masters rev up for a five-way fight for the three quarterfinal tickets that are still up for grabs in Group B.
Mr. Johnson, who averaged 30.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4 assists, and led Phoenix to a 4-3 record, was signed until August only and had to leave during the long break to honor his prior commitment with Russian club Parma BC.
And now the task falls on Mr. Earlington, a 6-foot-4 3/4 power forward who’s described as an “inside player” in the mold of Allen Durham.
The 26-year-old New Yorker, who accounted for solid numbers of 22.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists for Ironi Nahariya in the Israeli league, debuts on Friday as Phoenix resumes its bid against Meralco (4-5) at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
It’s an absolute must-win in the 7:30 p.m. main gig pitting two squads seeking to keep their spots inside the Magic 4 and ultimately follow pacesetting Magnolia (6-3) into the next round.
Also in this derby are second-running Rain or Shine (4-3), No. 5 Ginebra (3-5) and No. 6 Blackwater (3-5).
For coach Charles Tiu and the Fuel Masters, who haven’t seen action since dropping a 101-115 loss to the Hotshots last Aug. 12, a bounceback win will move them closer to their initial goal.
For Luigi Trillo and the Bolts, who revived their drive with a 120-115 verdict over Blackwater last Wednesday, it’s about taking care of business in their group-stage closeout and hoping it would be enough to send them through.
“At this point, we just need to control what’s in front of us, which is Phoenix,” said Mr. Trillo, whose squad may need to win big with points differential expected to come into play to break ties at the end of group play.
Meralco is finally unleashing Jordon Varnado against Phoenix after battling the Mr. Johnson-led Fuel Masters with an all-Filipino crew last July 15. Mr. Varnado was sidelined by a hamstring injury that time and helplessly watched his team lose by a hairline, 98-97.
Meanwhile, playoffs-bound Converge (6-4) takes on also-ran Macau (2-9) in a no-bearing Group A match at 5:15 p.m.
The FiberXers are bent on making it three straight in the conference’s resumption and fourth overall, counting their 120-103 romp over Terrafirma last Aug. 11. The Giant Pandas are out for a graceful exit after getting blown out thrice in their last four losses, including a record 60-point beating from NLEX last week. — Olmin Leyba