Bolts to firm up Top 4 bid vs Gin Kings

STREAKING Meralco shoots for its fifth straight win as the team strengthens its bid for a top 4 when the Bolts face struggling Barangay Ginebra in the main game of the 2023-2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts have won their last four games and enter their 8 p.m. match with the momentum against the Gin Kings.

A win allows Meralco to pull even with Phoenix at 7-1 for a share of second spot.

Meralco’s Aaron Black (right). PBA PHOTO 

As for Ginebra (4-3), the defending champion has been on a tailspin as of late, having lost its last two games-bowing to Phoenix, 82-77, in a road game in San Jose, Batangas, before getting beaten badly by a resurgent San Miguel side, 95-82.

The good news is, Season 47 Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson is expected to return to action after missing the team’s last three matches.

“Scottie should be available this Friday,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone confirmed to The Manila Times.

The hard-working Ginebra guard sustained a knee injury during the team’s 90-87 win over Blackwater on November 26. The Gin Kings have gone 1-2 in his absence.

Cone admitted that these past days, the team continues to work on their execution both offense and defense.

The American mentor also dispelled rumors that import Tony Bishop is set to be replaced.

“Not happening,” was Cone’s short reply.

Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said despite facing a Ginebra side that has been struggling as of late, the Bolts can’t afford to play complacent basketball.

“We face Ginebra, and they have multiple lineups. They have a big lineup, and guys who can switch,” shared Trillo.

Meanwhile, NLEX (2-6) and Blackwater (1-7) square off at 4 p.m. in a pair of struggling teams that are trying to string up wins in a bid to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Road Warriors, just last week, figured in a three-team trade that brought in high-scoring guard Robert Bolick in their fold.

The team hopes the acquisition of Bolick could bring stability at the guard spot since veteran Kevin Alas is gone for the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last November.