Ginebra to Get Back to Winning against Bottom Dweller Picanto

(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)

The Gin Kings need to bounce back STRONGER after a three-point loss to NLEX.

After outlasting the San Miguel Beermen in another classic slugfest which was also mired by horrible mistakes from the game officials, the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings looked like a team who was about to wreak havoc in the PBA especially with Greg Slaughter returning to action after missing three games where Ginebra lost two of those games. The Gin Kings were to play against the NLEX Road Warriors on Slaughter's first game back from injury and it appeared that the Road Warriors were headed into a tough battle.

It was indeed a tough battle as Ginebra was able to lead as much as 14 points but the ending wasn't something that didn't please Tim Cone nor the fans in attendance NLEX came back and slugged it out which enabled to them to break their losing slump after frustrating Ginebra, 81-78. That is despite Kiefer Ravena's 7 points on 1 for 12 field goal shooting. But Ravena went 5 for 6 from the free throw line including the last two which sealed the deal for NLEX.

Playing against a freefalling Kia Picanto team is something that Ginebra shouldn't take for granted. After all, the Picanto has won 1 game after recording the PBA's 3rd-longest losing streak that hit 16 consecutive defeats.Mind you, if there's an extra motivation for Kia heading into tomorrow's game against the giants of Ginebra, it's the fact that if they start winning by beating Ginebra, Kia gets to keep their playoff hopes alive. And, Kia only lost by 5 points against the Talk N Text KaTropa so that says something about the competitiveness of this team despite having a 1-6 record.

For the Gin Kings, it's really simple. Win tomorrow and avoid further complications come playoff time as Ginebra is currently tied with the Road Warriors, GlobalPort Batang Pier and the Phoenix Fuel Masters who all have identical records of 3-4.

Prediction

Ginebra will pound on the Picanto. But that doesn't mean that Kia doesn't have a chance at an upset either.