Petron, Rain or Shine look to stay on top

Games today:

Mall of Asia Arena

5:15 p.m.- Petron vs. Air21

7:30 p.m.- Alaska vs. Rain or Shine

THE DEFENDING champions Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Petron Blaze Boosters hope to stay on top when they play separate opponents today in the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Boosters take in the Air21 Express in the opening match while the Painters battle the Alaska in the main game.

Petron and Rain or Shine as well as Barako Bull and Globalport sport similar 2-1 (win-loss) cards for a four-way tie at the number sport.

The Painters started the tournament with back-to-back wins before they got ambushed by the Boosters, 84-99.

That 15-point win was the Boosters’ second straight victory following a 101-95 triumph over sister-team Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Those two straight wins allowed the Boosters to recover from a faulty start where they dropped an 83-89 decision against the Meralco Bolts.

The Aces are looking to finally barge into the win column. The newly crowned Commissioner’s Cup champions started their back-to-back title bid with a sorry 88-91 defeat to the Globalport.

The Express are looking to avoid a second straight loss after they faltered in their last assignment against Barako Bull, 94-103. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA