It's rivalry Sunday in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup in Bacolor, Pampanga as defending champion Barangay Ginebra and Meralco face off in an explosive encounter at the Don Honorio Ventura State U Gym.
The Gin Kings and the Bolts engaged in a thrilling five-game semifinal series decided by Scottie Thompson's last-gasp triple in the 2020 Clark bubble and their first meeting is expected to be as intense and competitive.
More than a battle for pride, the 4:35 p.m. showdown has so much value for the protagonists who are both trying to right the ship in the Pampanga hostilities.
The Bolts (5-2) suffered a stinging 76-91 blowout to rampaging TNT Tropang Giga Friday night.
It was a big letdown for the Norman Black-coached squad, which two nights before looked sharp in wiping out a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit and dealing Magnolia its first loss of the tourney.
The Gin Kings (2-3) are similarly in need of course correction following a deflating 90-95 setback to Terrafirma two days ago.
Coach Tim Cone and his charges are in a 2-3 start for the first time since the 2019 Commissioner's Cup and should start making their big move.
"We weren't executing. We were playing kind of 'bahala basketball' - just catching and going," Cone rued during the Power and Play program of former Commissioner Noli Eala. "And these are things that we've got to correct, and I think we will. At this point, we aren't playing good basketball and we know it."
Cone said the squad is trying to make fundamental tweaks in offense but didn't have enough time to do so, especially with pre-season trade acquisition Christian Standhardinger.
"We didn't have time to work on it so we've kinda gone back to some of the old stuff, which I'm not sure if effective with this group with Christian in the mix," he said "We're going to struggle through this. But we'll get better as we go along."