Caguioa-less Kings eye fifth straight victory

Games today

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Air21 vs. Barangay Ginebra

7:30 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. San Mig

WITH ITS superstar guard still a doubtful starter, the Barangay Ginebra Kings need to double their efforts to sustain their hot streak as they face the Air21 Express today in the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings are targeting a fifth straight victory to break free from a three-way tie at the fourth to sixth spots. Ginebra sports a 5-5 (win-loss) record—the same slate that the Meralco Bolts and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters have.

Mark Caguioa is expected to sit out again against the Express due to an injured foot.

“It’s time to work even harder,” said Ginebra head coach Al Francis Chua. “As I’ve said before, kailangan lahat tulong-tulong para ma-fill up iyung kawalan ni Mark.”

The Kings survived Caguioa’s absence when they nipped the Meralco Bolts, 96-89, last March 22.

Without its top scorer, the Kings will have to rely on defense to overcome an Air21 squad looking to get back on track.

“Defense is still the key. That’s the main reason why we have won four straight and the entire team agrees with me,” said Chua. “If we can keep up our aggressiveness in defense, yung offense namin darating at darating.”

The Express saw their four-game win streak come to an end after they bowed to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Sunday, 83-94.

“We must do a better job with our execution, offensively and defensively,” said Air21 head coach Franz Pumaren./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA