Barangay Ginebra Nears PBA Governors Cup Finals After Special Game Against San Miguel Beer
Barangay Ginebra is on the verge of securing a spot in the PBA Governors Cup finals after a remarkable performance against San Miguel Beer. The Gin Kings are now focused on replicating their success in the upcoming semifinal game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum this Sunday.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with Ginebra aiming for consecutive wins to join defending champion TNT in the finals. Ginebra leads the best-of-seven series 3-2, following a dominant 121-92 victory last Friday. Coach Tim Cone’s team showcased impressive stats, shooting 54.8% from the field, dishing out 31 assists, and committing only six turnovers.
“Thirty-one assists against six turnovers is exceptional. It’s not something you achieve every night, but we managed it tonight,” said Cone after the game, where Ginebra led by as many as 31 points. “We hope to come close to this performance in the next game,” he added.
However, Cone acknowledges the challenge of repeating such a performance against a strong team like San Miguel. “Can we follow it up? That’s the big question,” he said. San Miguel has proven its resilience, bouncing back from losses twice in the series.
Cone emphasized the difficulty of playoff wins, especially after a victory. “The hardest win in a playoff is after you’ve won. The other team will come back with adjustments and more determination,” he explained.
For Ginebra, the key is to play to their defensive strengths and continue making stops against San Miguel, which was held to 44.2% shooting and forced into 19 turnovers in Game 5. “San Miguel is a gifted offensive team, but our strength lies in our defense,” said Cone. “When we try to play their game, we get into trouble, as seen in Game 4.”
San Miguel’s efforts to equalize may be hampered by the uncertain status of starting point guard Jericho Cruz, who suffered a right ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of Game 5.
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