The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will look to score a win before the playoffs of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup, and their last assignment in the elimination round will be a match against the desperate Phoenix Fuel Masters. Will Ginebra takes care of business? Or, will Phoenix rise to the occasion and upset the Barangay?
Catch this game live on Thursday, July 21 at 7:15 pm, Manila time.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (7-3)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: LA Tenorio
- SG: Stanley Pringle
- SG: Scottie Thompson
- PF: Christian Standhardinger
- C: Japeth Aguilar
Ginebra prevented a three-game skid by defeating the NorthPort Batang Pier last Sunday at the Big Dome, 100-93. The Barangay were really looking for a huge victory to get their moxie back following back-to-back losses to the TNT Tropang Giga and the Meralco Bolts, and they made sure to pounce on the Batang Pier’s flimsy defense. Ginebra isn’t the most prolific offensive team out there, as the Barangay are just eighth in the league so far in the 2022 PBA Philippine Conference with an average of just 89.3 points per game.
But Ginebra can expose teams that don’t know how to defend. The Barangay’s three highest point totals in a match were in meetings with the Terrafirma Dyip, Converge FiberXers, and NorthPort, which are teams in the bottom five of scoring defense this conference. That doesn’t sound good for the Phoenix Fuel Masters who are allowing 94.1 points per game – fourth-most overall.
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (3-7)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Tyler Tio
- SG: Jansen Rios
- SF: Javee Mocon
- PF: Sean Anthony
- C: Jason Perkins
It’s going to be tough for Phoenix to win its remaining game of the conference, but the Fuel Masters have all the motivation they need to put up a strong fight against the Barangay. For one, they still have a slim chance of making the playoffs, though that’s no longer entirely in their hands. Nevertheless, they need to win this Thursday. One big problem for the Fuel Masters is that they won’t have their best player, with Matthew Wright having seemingly played his last game for the Fuel Masters – and probably in the PBA.
Nevertheless, the Fuel Masters have some momentum after breaking a five-game losing streak with a masterful 89-66 demolition job of a victory over Converge last Saturday. Jason Perkins, Tyler Tio, Sean Anthony, and Javee Mocon are all expected to get increased usages in Wright’s absence, and will look to keep up with the Barangay, at least offensively, as the Fuel Masters are fifth in the league with a 101.7 offensive rating.
PREDICTION:
Spread: The Fuel Masters cover (+8.5).
Over/Under: The total goes Under (187.5).
