Up against coach Yeng Guiao's teams, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone says "you get what you earn."
And Cone expects an even tougher grind in a duel with the fiery Kapampangan coach in his backyard.
"There's never anything easy playing against coach Yeng's teams," said Cone, anticipating a real slam-bang battle as the Gin Kings and the NLEX Road Warriors clash in a key game at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena in Angeles City, Pampanga Saturday night.
The Kings and the Road Warriors figure in a virtual playoff match in this Petron Blaze road showdown in the Pampanga district where Guiao is bidding to reclaim a congressional seat.
"We know it's gonna be tough. NLEX is also a team on a roll coming off two blowout wins. So we know we have a work cut out for us, and we'll have to respond in kind," said Cone.
Sponsored content:
The Kings need to win the match to stay in the running for a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals while the Road Warriors seek a win that will assure them of a playoff passage.
Ginebra actually needs to sweep its last three games against NLEX, Meralco and NorthPort to catch up with Rain or Shine (8-3) at second place behind Phoenix Pulse.
If Ginebra, ROS and TNT KaTropa all finish at 8-3, the Kings claim the No. 2 spot by virtue of a superior quotient.
But if only Ginebra and ROS end up at 8-3, the E-Painters secure the coveted spot on account of the winner-over-the-rule.
The E-Painters topped the Kings, 83-80, in a road match in Calasiao, Pangasinan on Jan. 26.
Sponsored content:
Going to the Angeles tiff, the Kings are buoyed up by back-to-back victories over the Phoenix Fuel Masters (100-97) and versus the Magnolia Hotshots (97-93).
The Road Warriors, meanwhile, ride the momentum of big routs of Alaska Milk Aces (91-70) and the Blackwater Elite (122-101). (SB)
