Ginebra strikes another trade, deals Taha for GlobalPort's Sargent

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs GlobalPort

7 p.m. – Columbian Dyip vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra continued to tweak its lineup heading into the homestretch of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round, acquiring Julian Sargent from GlobalPort in exchange for Paolo Taha.

The Gin Kings, determined to make a late push to salvage a playoff spot in the midseason tourney which they topped in the past two seasons, took in Sargent a day after netting Jeff Chan in a separate trade deal with Phoenix Petroleum.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, reacquired Taha whom they dealt to Mahindra (Columbian Dyip) in 2016.

Ginebra and GlobalPort struck a trade deal on the eve of their crucial matches versus Columbian Dyip and Phoenix, respectively, Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Batang Pier and the Fuel Masters square off at 4:30 p.m. then the Dyip and the Gin Kings face off at 7 p.m. in a pair of virtual playoff matches.

GlobalPort shares fifth place with San Miguel Beer at 4-4 while Columbian is at joint seventh with Magnolia at 4-5 but Ginebra is now right behind them at 3-5, with Phoenix standing right next at 3-6.

Victories by the Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters will shake up the middle of the leaderboard.

But GlobalPort and Columbian are in high spirits coming off stirring triumphs the last time out. The Batang Pier bucked the ouster of Malcolm White on technical infractions in the last eight-minute mark in upstaging the San Miguel Beermen, 98-94, last week while the Dyip rolled over the Fuel Masters, 115-107, on June 10.

The Dyip, however, face an uphill climb against a rejuvenated Ginebra squad.

The Kings have moved within reach of at least the bottom four in the Top Eight following back-to-back wins over the NLEX Road Warriors (93-85) and the Magnolia Hotshots (104-84).

“We’re a little more comfortable now,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone with a core rotation that has become formidable once again on the return of Greg Slaughter, Joe Devance and Justin Brownlee.

Then add now new trade acquisition Chan.

“Jeff obviously fills a big hole for us. His ability to spread the floor for Greg (Slaughter) and Japeth (Aguilar) could spell the difference,” said Cone.

But Cone remains wary of the Dyip, noting their topnotch showing in their 115-107 conquest of the Fuel Masters on June 10. And Columbian is the lone team that has beat tournament leader Rain or Shine.

Cone said they will not take Columbian for granted as they seek to keep their winning streak in a bid to finally break into the Top Eight.

“We have no margin for error. We’ve got to keep finding ways to win,” said Cone.

Ginebra faces Columbian, Alaska Milk then GlobalPort in their last three games in the one round-robin elims. Columbian, meanwhile, has Ginebra and GlobalPort as final assignments.

The Dyip pumped life into their sagging playoff aspiration when they topped the Fuel Masters after three successive losses to the Hotshots, the TNT KaTropa Texters and the San Miguel Beermen.