Alaska faces Ginebra, hopes to stretch PHL Cup winning streak to three

Alaska aims to stretch its winning run in the PBA Philippine Cup, facing struggling Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Aces carry a two-game winning streak—their best so far this season—in their 5:15 encounter against the Gin Kings. Alaska is fresh from an 86-80 triumph over Shopinas.com three days ago. Alaska (3-7), after its slow start, are now back in the hunt for a playoff berth which they hope to earn by getting back against Ginebra. The Aces lost to the Kings in their first meeting, 72-83. "We have to be smarter and prepare as hard as possible for Ginebra. Right now, the team is playing the way we wanted...a little bit," said Alaska mentor Joel Banal. Unlike the Aces, the opposite can be said of the Kings, who lost three of their last four games—the last of which an 88-76 setback at the hands of sister-team B-MEG. The Kings are just above the Aces at 4-5. The other half of the day's doubleheader will have Meralco facing Barako Bull. The Bolts won their last two outings and will try to break out of a tie with the Llamados at 6-4 in the middle of the standings. The Energy (5-4) dropped their last two matches, but remains a very dangerous foe, according to Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. "Barako Bull is packed with big names who can still play big games," he said. "The goal is to continue to go up the ladder. We are finding ways to win. We want to stay close, and defend their transition and guard their key players." — JVP, GMA News