Petron Blaze to play without reinforcement tomorrow vs Rain or Shine

Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
5:15 p.m.- Meralco vs. San Mig
7:30 p.m.- Alaska vs. Air21
Petron Blaze’s bid of bringing in another former NBA player as its import failed and will play import-less on Saturday against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in an out of town game of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
“So close to signing Samardo Samuels but negotiations just hit a snag. Could have been a good fit. This means Petron willl be import-less on Saturday,” San Miguel Corporation sports director Noli Eala said in a post in his Twitter account.
Samuels is playing in the NBA-D League and had stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Tried our best but negotiations fell through. Terms were too much. Have to go to alternative plan,” Eala added.
Petron is scrambling to find a new import following the lifetime banning of former reinforcement Renaldo Balkman.
With Samuels already out of the picture, the Boosters will resume their negotiation with Rodney White.
Petron had tried to negotiate with White before trying its luck with Samules.
White suited up for Barako Bull in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup but only played five games as he had to rush home to attend to his ailing father.
Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces look to tighten their hold of the solo number one spot when they play the Air21 Express in the main game today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces sit on top of the standings with six wins and one loss. Trailing them are Petron and Rain or Shine, which have similar 5-2 (win-loss) cards.
It was in Alaska’s last victory, an 83-73 deicision, where Balkman lost his cool, attacking his teammates in the final 21 seconds of the contest.
The Express snapped a five-game slide when they prevailed over Globalport Batang Pier, 106-94, tallying just their second victory in seven games.
In the first game, the Meralco Bolts target a fourth straight victory against the San Mig Coffee Mixers.
The Bolts listed their third straight win and fourth overall in seven outings by trouncing the Barako Bull Energy Colas, 112-104, Wednesday night.
San Mig, on the other hand, looks to get back on track after its three-game win streak was snapped last Sunday, losing to sister-team Barangay Ginebra Kings, 88-96.
The Coffee Mixers are at sixth place with a 3-4 record.