Ginebra, Barako, Rain or Shine play crucial games

Game Thursday
Dubai, UAE
8 p.m. (12 midnight, Manila time)- Rain or Shine vs. Barako Bull

Two teams looking to end their struggles collide as the 37th PBA Commissioner’s Cup brings its action to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Barako Bull Energy take on each at other tonight at the Al Shabab Club.

After battling the Barako Bull, the Painters will again see action the following day against the Barangay Ginebra Kings. Rain or Shine is the only winless squad left in the tournament after dropping its first two assignments.

The Painters started the tournament with a, 102-109 loss to the Alaska Aces and still failed to barge into the win column when they absorbed a sorry, 122-120 defeat against the Powerade Tigers in their next outing.

The Energy started the import-flavored tournament with an easy, 78-98 win against the Aces but dropped their next two assignments.

Barako Bull suffered its first loss at the hands of the B-Meg Llamados, 86-88, before enduring a painful, 88-97 debacle against the Air21 Express (formerly Shopinas.com).

Shopinas.com went into the game reeling from a winless campaign in the Philippine Cup where it failed to win a single game in 14 outings.

In a report posted at pba.ph, Edwin Deang, chairman of the organizing Philippine Expats Basketball Club (PEBC), said the two out-of-the-country games are expected to attract huge crowds.

“The clamor to bring the PBA back to Dubai has been tremendous, especially after the basketball-hungry Filipinos here had been treated by the PBA games last year so we decided to give in to their wishes,” Deang said.

Talk N’ Text, Barangay Ginebra and B-Meg played in Dubai last year.

“We consider all OFWs modern day heroes of our country. Hopefully, by bringing the games closer to them, we are able to bring joy and inspiration to them,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.