AS they love to say: Game Seven is the best two words in sports — a thrill to the victor; agony to the vanquished.
Long time good rivals Barangay Ginebra and Meralco go through this bare-knuckle dispute one more time Friday in San Jose, Batangas, slugging it out for the right to battle San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup Finale.
It’s been a nip-and-tuck affair, and the Gin Kings and the Bolts have reached the distance of their best-of-seven semifinal face-off, clashing in a no-tomorrow tiff at 7:30 p.m. at the FPJ Arena in this lovely city some 70 kilometers south of Manila.
Both teams are saying they’re prepared for this showdown, hinting at a knife-edged showdown to determine the last team standing, gaining a shot at the crown versus the title-holders.
It’s also been a great chess match between the think tanks of the opposing squads, with coaches Luigi Trillo and Nenad Vucinic in the winning end the last time with their own great shuffle of their cards.
Bong Quinto responded big time as a surprise starter while Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome delivered big plays down the stretch as the Bolts took Game Six, 86-81, to force the 3-3 logjam.
“I said it’s not over and this is what we want, a Game Seven,” said Trillo.
Pulling through in the game where their lives were on the line Wednesday at the Big Dome, the Bolts now hope to deliver a tougher effort, anticipating a tougher grind in the decider.
And it could really be a test of character, will and spirit with both teams expected to leave everything on the floor in this kill-or-be-killed tiff.
The Kings have the upper hand in their storied playoff showdowns, but to the Bolts belong the triumph in their last face-off in the previous Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
In a best-of-three slugfest then, the Bolts dealt the first blow, 93-82, the Kings struck back, 94-87, then Meralco took the clincher in a 106-104 cliffhanger.
And the Bolts seem to have improved their chemistry while the Kings are dealing with injuries to key players as they duke it out in another KO match in Batangas.
But for sure, Ginebra’s virtual sixth man – the crowd – will be there in the battle.
But in the end, it could be Ginebra’s NSD (never-say-die) spirit versus Meralco’s own no-surrender attitude. (SB)
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