Elasto Painters eye solo lead in PBA PH Cup

Games today:

Ynares Center, Antipolo City

4:00 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. Meralco

6:15 p.m.- Powerade vs. Petron

THE RAIN OR SHINE Elasto Painters gun for the solo leadership when they face the streaking Meralco Bolts today in the first game of the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Rain or Shine, winner of two straight games, is tied with the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters at the number one spot with similar 4-1 (win-loss) records.

This could be an explosive match as the Bolts have been hot of late.

Trailing closely the league-leaders with four wins and two losses, the Bolts are coming off two big wins.

Meralco first scored an 80-70 win over the erstwhile unbeaten Petron Blaze Boosters before scoring an 81-75 victory over the winless Alaska Aces last Friday.

The Bolts now have the benefit of playing with a more complete lineup.

Sideline for several games due to a foot injury, Mark Cardona returned to action against the Aces where he scored 10 points, including crucial baskets in the fourth.

The main game will feature two struggling teams with the Powerade Tigers going up against the Boosters.

The Tigers and the Boosters are both on a two-game slide.

Petron has a 3-2 card, while Powerade has two wins and three losses.

Petron started the tournament with three straight wins before dropping their last two, including an 86-96 setback against the Texters last Friday.

The Texters easily won that game, which served as rematch of last season Governor’s Cup finals won by the Boosters. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA