TNT, Ginebra favored
DEFENDING champion TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra maybe leading their respective PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven semifinal series, but even coaches Chot Reyes and Tim Cone know it’s still far from over.
That’s because their semifinal opponents — Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer — can easily recover from 1-2 deficit and reduce the series into a best-of-three.
Regardless of the outcomes of the two matches — 3-1 for TNT and Ginebra or series tied at 2-2 — experts predict another tight battle beginng at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Last Sunday, the Gin Kings came out victorious in a hard-fought 99-94 win against the Beermen, with resident import Justin Brownlee and veteran Japeth Aguilar leading the way.
Brownlee finished with 30 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Aguilar added 22 markers and eight boards for the Ginebra.
The other semifinal match up will see the Tropang Giga hoping to get back to winning ways after a heartbreaking 109-110 loss to the E-Painters in Dasmariñas, Cavite last Sunday.
Even Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s triple-double 23 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds failed to carry the Tropang Giga a 3-0 advantage.
Import Aaron Fuller and Santi Santillan led the charge for the E-Painters, as coach Yeng Guiao’s squad looks to tie the series.
Fuller was back on his usuals deadly self with 26 points and 16 rebounds while Santillan added 20 points and six rebounds.
“We got ourselves back in the series, and it gives us the confidence that we can beat TNT,” said Guiao.
“We’re not going to dwell on the fact of that we could have or should have or would have. The bottom line is, here is where we are right now,” said Cone.
The results:
Game 1–Ginebra 122, San Miguel 105
Game 2 — San Miguel 131, Ginebra 125
Game 3 –Ginebra 99, San Miguel 94
(Ginebra lead series, 2-1)
Game 1: TNT 90, Rain or Shine 81
Game 2: TNT 108, Rain or Shine 91
Game 3: Rain or Shine 110, TNT 109
(TNT lead t series, 2-1)