Big matches up for ‘Group of Death’ squads

Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Gian Mamuyac during a game vs former team Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

Four teams from Group B will see action on Friday as they look to catch up on surprise leader Phoenix near the halfway mark of the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.

Rain or Shine and Magnolia square off in the opener at 5:15 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena before Barangay Ginebra and Meralco collide in the nightcap set at 7:30 p.m.

Group B is living up to its billing as the “Group of Death” at this point of the conference, with Phoenix on top at 4-1 followed by Rain or Shine and Meralco with identical 2-2 win-loss records, Blackwater at 2-3 and Ginebra and Magnolia holding similar 1-2 slates.

For Rain or Shine, it hopes to be within striking distance of Phoenix after starting the campaign by dropping its first two matches.

Painters rising

It was Rain or Shine which handed Phoenix its only loss thus far, before blowing out Ginebra, 110-99, last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum behind import Aaron Fuller, Caelan Tiongson and Adrian Nocum.

“Our first losses were disappointing, but I think it was a wake-up call,” said coach Yeng Guiao. “After that, we’re playing better defense and rebounding the ball better.”

Magnolia also started the conference at 0-2, but finally broke into the win column the previous Friday when it blew out Meralco, 112-98, behind import KJ Buffen, Zavier Lucero, Ian Sangalang and Jerom Lastimosa.

Like Guiao, Hotshots coach LA Tenorio has been preaching the need to strengthen his team’s defensive execution, something they will need direly in this stretch.

Meanwhile, Ginebra and Meralco are eager to bounce back after losing those games.

Out of synch

Ginebra couldn’t get its rhythm against Rain or Shine, much to the dismay of coach Tim Cone as his team continues to grope for form while missing injured star Scottie Thompson and having Riley Grigsby as import while Justin Brownlee is on the mend.

Meralco has been pleased with the performance of Antonio Hester in his three games as import, but consistency is something the Bolts want in their own bid to end the first round below Phoenix.

The doubleheader is actually the first of two games in a span of three days for each ballclub.

They’ll switch opponents on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Rain or Shine battling Meralco before Ginebra and Magnolia renew their “Manila Clasico” sibling rivalry.