Game Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs Meralco
(Ginebra leads series, 3-2)
THERE are two ways this could go for Barangay Ginebra.
And coach Tim Cone would rather take the first — tackling the gargantuan San Miguel Beer problem straightaway with a short turnaround time — than the second — dealing with tough Meralco again in a risky semifinal sudden death on the road.
Thanks to pivotal wins in Games 4 (90-71) and 5 (89-84), the Gin Kings, up 3-2, are in position to strike the death blow on the Bolts in tonight’s sixth match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
If successful in the 7:30 p.m. tiff, Cone and Co. seal a date with the mighty Beermen in the best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup finals with the opener blasting off in a few days’ time.
But if Meralco makes good on its equalizer plan, then it’s going down to a deciding Game 7 on Friday in San Jose, Batangas.
“I’m sorry to the fans in Batangas but if we don’t see them, I’d be very, very happy,” said Mr. Cone, smiling but deep inside, really intent on finishing the series sooner than later.
“But if we do (play a Game 7 in San Jose), I hope we can put on a show for them (Batangas fans),” he added.
Ginebra has made a U-turn after trailing 1-2. Now it’s Meralco’s turn.
“It’s not over,” Bolts coach Luigi Trillo said even as he declared complete trust in his charges.
The Bolts could have been the one in this “on-the-doorstep-of-the-finals” situation had they followed through on the strong start in Game 5 that lifted them to a 15-point lead in the third period.
“We’re playing some good basketball but we need to finish it,” noted Mr. Trillo, hoping for the likes of Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero and Allein Maliksi to lead the way.
as Raymond Almazan and Brandon Bates anchor the defense against Ginebra wrecking ball Christian Standhardinger.
Mr. Cone tasked his crew led by Standhardinger, Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Stanley Pringle to switch on to “battle mode” from the very first minute, not after three and a half quarters.
“I think our readiness to start the basketball game is really key. Getting off on the right foot with this team has really been a challenge for us and for them, too. I think the team that gets off to the right foot really has the advantage through the game,” he said. — Olmin Leyba
