Meralco out to halt skid vs Blackwater

Games today (MOA Arena)

4:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Blackwater

7 p.m. – Globalport vs Star

MANILA, Philippines - Meralco tries to check its skid and hold on to its spot on top while Blackwater, Star and Globalport hope to start a rally as they figure in a crucial doubleheader in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay tonight.

The Bolts and the Elite mix it up at 4:15 p.m. then the Hotshots and the Batang Pier slug it out at 7 p.m., each one aching to get on the run nearing the homestretch of the elimination round.

Erstwhile unbeaten solo leader Meralco has lost ground following back-to-back losses to San Miguel Beer and NLEX.

The Bolts are now hard-pressed to get back on track, with the Alaska Milk Aces catching up at 5-2, the San Miguel Beermen right behind them at 4-2, and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Barangay Ginebra Kings not far behind at 4-3.

All are determined to finish first or second for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Blackwater, however, could be a dangerous opponent as the Elite are also raring to start winning again after dropping three of their last four games.

“I’m expecting a tough game versus Blackwater because they have played well even in their losses,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

“Keys to the game are we have to slow down their fastbreak, challenge their three-point shooters and keep their import (MJ Rhett) off the offensive boards,” Black also said.

Shooter Gary David is to serve a game suspension meted by the team for misconduct.

Like Blackwater, Star hopes to hit the .500 mark with a 4-4 slate versus a Globalport side which is now virtually fighting for survival at 2-5.

The Hotshots got some relief on their back-to-back wins over the Tropang TNT Texters and the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, have plunged all the way down to the cellar after losing all their last four games – the last three without Stanley Pringle and the last one sans Pringle and Terrence Romeo.

With a rest of over two weeks, Pringle could already be ready to plunge back into action tonight, but not Romeo who is nursing a calf muscle strain.

Minus Pringle and Romeo, the Batang Pier rode the solid PBA debut of import Shawn Taggart as they barely dropped their last game versus Alaska, 101-103.

Taggart will be ranged against Ricardo Ratliffe, Star’s own import sub who was key to their crucial wins over the Texters and the Fuel Masters.