Alaska, Petron renew rivalry today; slumping Globalport, Meralco look to end skids

Games today:

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Globalport vs. Meralco

7:30 p.m.- Petron vs. Alaska

The Petron Blaze Boosters seek payback against former tormentor Alaska Aces in a gigantic collision tonight in the main game of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

At stake in the crucial match is the top spot with the Aces looking to regain the solo lead and the Boosters gunning for a piece of the leadership.

The Aces are currently tied with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the number one spot with identical 7-3 (win-loss) records. The Boosters are within striking distance with the two co-leaders with their 6-3 slate.

Alaska prevailed over Petron in their first meeting last March 8, 83-73. That game became controversial when  then Petron import Renaldo Balkman lost his cool in the dying seconds and attacked his teammates. Balkman’s behavior in that game led to his banning for life from the league.

Petron split its first two games since Balkman’s departure. The Boosters bucked an import-less lineup when they trounced the Painters, 87-79, on March 16 in Panabo City.

Balkman’s replacement Rodney White debuted last Friday, where he struggled for just 12 points in the team’s osrry 85-93 overtime loss to Talk ‘N Text.

White went just five-of-17 from the field in 31 minutes of play.

The loss was extra painful for the Boosters as they  squandered a six-point lead inside the final minute of regulation and failed to score a single point in the overtime.

The Aces, on the other hand, dropped a close 83-84 loss against the San Mig Coffee Mixers Saturday night.

Odds are stacked against the Aces tonight as they will missing two key players in Jayvee Casio and Sonny Thoss.

“We need to keep on competing. We control our destiny at this point for the top two spots. Even with injured guys, we can go at it,” said Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo, who was recently fined P40,000 for confronting game officials after their one-point loss San Mig.

Casio is expected to sit for the third straight game with an injured knee, while Thoss will rest a sore back.

Meanwhile, the Globalport Batang Pier look to avoid an eighth straight defeat when the collide with the Meralco Bolts in the first game.

Globalport is mired at the bottom of the standings with a dismal 2-8 slate. The Bolts are also on a slump as they lost their last two games.  Meralco is at eighth spot with a 4-5 record.