Bossing seek payback, first win over Gin Kings

Blackwater gets another opportunity to break through against Barangay Ginebra as the two teams headline Group B action in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors' Cup on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., with the Bossing aiming to give head coach Pat Aquino his first victory over the Gin Kings after falling just short in their previous meeting during the Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on April 24.

In that contest, Aquino, then only weeks into his tenure with Blackwater, guided the Bossing to a strong start before Ginebra's championship experience took over late. Stephen Holt knocked down two crucial three-pointers midway through the fourth quarter to lift the Kings to a 115-108 victory.

Blackwater enters the rematch looking to bounce back after its bid for a 3-0 start was snapped by Meralco last Tuesday in Antipolo.

The Bossing erased an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit and tied the game at 114-all behind consecutive baskets from RK Ilagan, but Chris Newsome scored the game-winner to hand Blackwater the defeat.

Ginebra, meanwhile, is also searching for its first victory of the conference after opening its campaign with a narrow 81-78 loss to Phoenix Super LPG.

The Gin Kings rallied from 14 points down in the final five minutes and cut the deficit to two behind import Riley Grigsby, but Jeremiah Gray missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the closing seconds.

Grigsby impressed in his PBA debut with 42 points and 13 rebounds after replacing the injured Justin Brownlee and is expected to be a focal point of Blackwater's defensive game plan.

According to Tiger Score, Blackwater enters the matchup as a four-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 211.5 points.

The day's curtain-raiser at 5:15 p.m. features Meralco against Magnolia.

The Bolts are seeking their third straight victory after recovering from an opening-game loss, with another win moving them into a share of the Group B lead with Phoenix Super LPG at 3-1.

Magnolia, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win after losses to Phoenix and Blackwater.

The matchup also serves as a rematch of last conference's dramatic semifinal series, where Meralco eliminated Magnolia in a virtual best-of-three showdown.

Magnolia first defeated the Bolts, 93-76, in the elimination round to secure the fifth seed before the two teams met again in the quarterfinals.

The Hotshots forced a winner-take-all game with a 95-89 victory before Meralco escaped with a 105-102 overtime win to advance.

Jerom Lastimosa, who starred for Magnolia in that series, will once again be counted on as the Hotshots try to end their early-season slide.

Tiger Score lists Magnolia as a two-point favorite, with the over/under pegged at 195.0 points.