They meet again
DON’T look now, but Barangay Ginebra and Meralco, two of the more exciting — and more popular — teams in the PBA are back for another installment of their heated rivalry in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
Ginebra easily eliminated Magnolia Pambansang Manok, 99-77, in the No. 2 versus No. 7 quarterfinal showdown at the historic Rizal Coliserum last May 11.
The Kings, who finished the elimination round with a 7-4 win-loss record, enjoyed twice-to-beat advantage over the seventh-seeded Hotshots, who wound up at the tailend of a heavy five-way tie at 6-5.
Meralco, on the other hand, finished as No. 3 seed and came away with two inspiring victories over the No. 6 seed NLEX in a best-of-three quarterfinal encounter.
The Bolts swept both matches against the Road Warriors, 97-93, last May 10 and 100-81, last May 12 to earn the right to meet the Kings in the semis.
So, the first half of the semis will again pit two talent-laden teams with a long and colorful rivalry dating back to the 2010 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Record (Elimination)
Ginebra — 7-4 win-loss.
Meralco — 6-5 in-loss.
Head-to-head
Meralco defeated Ginebra, 91-73, last March 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Players to watch
Ginebra — Christian Standhardinger (19.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg. 5.0 apg), Julian Malonzo ( 14.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.2 apg), Japeth Aguilar (13.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Maverick Ahanmisi ( 12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.5apg), Louis Cu ( 8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg).
Meralco — Chris Newsome ( 15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.7 apg), Allein Maliksi ( 13.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 apg), Aaron Black (11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.6 apg), Raymond Almazan (8.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Cliff Hodge (8.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.0 apg).
Coaching staff
Ginebra – Tim Cone (Head coach), Richard del Rosario, Olsen Racela, Kirk Collier, . Patrick Partosa.
Meralco — Luigi Trillo (Head coach), Gene Afable, Reynel Hugnatan, Sandro Soriano.
On paper, Ginebra enjos tremendous edge over Meralco in this bitter rivalry.
Thanks mainly to do-it-all import Justin Brownlee, the Kings have beaten the Bolts in all their five title showdowns — 2010 PBA Governors’ Cup finals (4-2), 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup finals (4-2), 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup finals (4-3), 2019 PBA Governors’Cup finals (4-1) and 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup finals (4-1).
Ginebra also won over Meralco, 2-0, in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
The Bolts finally got their payback when they defeated the Kings, 93-82 and 106-104, in the 2022 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
It would be interesting to watch how these two star-studded teams with brilliant coaches will face off in the semis and battle it out for the right to meet the winner of the other half of the quarterfinal ladder: No. 1 San Miguel Beer against No. 8 Terrafirma and No. 4 TNT versus No. 5 Rain or Shine.
Prediction: Ginebra
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Congratulations to the newly-elected officers of the National Press Club, led by President Leonel “Boying” Abasola of the Press Freedom Party.
The other officers are Benny Antiporda (Vice President), Tina Maralit (Secretary), Mina Navarro (Treasurer), Lydua Bueno (Auditor), and Aya Yupangco, Alvin Murcia, Benedict Abaygar, Gina Mape, Madz Dominguez, Eduardo Reyes Jr.,Jeane Lacorte, Jun Mendoza, Dennis Napule and Ferdinand Topacio (Board of Directors).
NOTES — Belated Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom Virgie Nell-Andaya, my wife Liza and daughter Steffi on Sunday, May 12…
Happy 18th birthday to Ina Ysabelle, daughter of Kat Almero, who celebrated with family and friends at Villa Susano, BF Resort Village in Las Piñas City last May 12.
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