Gin Kings eyeing consistency, battle struggling Picanto

Games today (Mall of Asia Arena)

4:30 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Phoenix

7 p.m. – Kia vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines - TNT KaTropa tries to stay right behind the front runners, Phoenix Petroleum and Barangay Ginebra look to regain a spot in the upper half of the chart, while Kia fights for dear life as they see action in a crucial double-header in the PBA Philippine Cup at the MOA Arena Wednesday night.

The Texters and the Fuel Masters clash at 4:30 p.m. then the Gin Kings and the Picanto collide at 7 p.m., with each team determined to raise the level of their game entering the homestretch of the elimination round.

In winning their last game against the Picanto (90-85), the Texters now share fourth spot with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4-3, two full games behind the pacesetting San Miguel Beermen (6-1) and a game and a half adrift the Alaska Milk Aces (6-2) and the Magnolia Hotshots (6-2).

“Every game is important at this stage of the conference. We need to get wins to have a favorable position in the playoffs,” said coach Nash Racela whose TNT team needs to continue winning to stay in the fight for the Top Two and its precious prize of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

The Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters are both in a precarious spot at joint sixth with the GlobalPort Batang Pier and the NLEX Road Warriors at 3-4.

Each of them hopes to be at least in the Top Six or in the middle spots in the playoffs to figure in a pair of best-of-three quarterfinals. The seventh-ranked and No. 8 teams in the playoffs will need two in a row to make the semifinals.

Phoenix coach Louie Alas said they have a job cut out for them coming off a bad loss to Alaska Milk (75-93) then facing a tough team in TNT KaTropa.

“We haven’t beaten that team. And anyways, it’s hard to beat TNT in a shootout. They’re super explosive and very talented,” said Alas. “We need to be great in stopping them individually and in containing their team tendencies. We need to play our A-game especially on the defensive end.”

Racela, on the other hand, is focused on neutralizing Phoenix’s gunners and in breaking the Fuel Masters’ pressing defense.

The Kings, meanwhile, hope to finally find steadiness and consistency to boost their playoff drive.

They blew a double-digit deficit on a fourth-quarter meltdown in their 78-81 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors Saturday that once again pushed them out of the Top Five.

In a far more delicate situation is Kia at 1-6. The Picanto must start winning now if they’re to clinch a spot in the Final Eight.

After finally breaking into the win-column with a 98-94 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Picanto reeled with back-to-back losses to Meralco (76-105) and to TNT KaTropa (85-90).

But at least the Picanto were competitive the last time out against the Texters.