AFTER nearly two months of whirlwind battles in the group phase and quarterfinals, four teams are alive, fighting, and out to move closer to the Big Dance.
What gnaws at Ginebra coach Tim Cone is his charges’ match-up with San Miguel Beer’s reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
“We deal with what we have, and we figure out a way,” Cone said. “Obviously, having to go with June Mar in the series is gonna be a big concern for us as well.”
For Beermen counterpart Jorge Gallent, it’s back to square one. “This is back to zero,” Gallent said. “It’s a series so, you know, it’s (a matter of) adjustments, adjustments.
“The best thing about now is, it starts 0-0 and we will prepare for Ginebra.”
Which squad can gain the crucial early lead will be known when Ginebra takes on SMB today in Game 1 of their best-of-7 semifinals duel in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 5 p.m.
Defending champion TNT squares off with Rain or Shine at 7:30 in the other semis series.
The Kings made short work of the Meralco Bolts in the Last Eight via a 3-0 sweep capped by a 113-106 victory in Game 3 last Sept. 30.
Ginebra is expected to draw strength from the likes of resident import Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thompson, ace rookie RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, Maverick Ahanmisi, and veteran Japeth Aguilar.
Unlike the Kings, the Beermen only advanced to the Last Four three nights ago via a hard-earned 109-105 decision over the Converge FiberXers in the fifth game of their series.
Aside from Fajardo, SMB will rely on reinforcement EJ Anosike, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, and Jericho Cruz.
Ginebra downed the Beermen 108-102 when they first met in the eliminations of Group B last Aug. 27 behind the career-best 51 points of Brownlee.
But SMB redeemed itself in emphatic fashion, beating the Kings to a pulp 131-82 last Sept. 15 on a night where Lassiter moved past Jimmy Alapag as the league’s three-point king (1,254).
“We’re playing a tough team and they’re the defending champions,” Elasto Painters tactician Yeng Guiao said after his charges ousted the Magnolia Hotshots 113-103 in their knockout game last Saturday.
Import Aaron Fuller, Andrei Caracut, Adrian Nocum, Leonard Santillan, freshmen Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti and Caelan Tiongson, and veteran Beau Belga will be counted upon by Rain or Shine to deliver.
Although they rolled to a 3-1 quarterfinals win over the NLEX Road Warriors, Tropag Giga strategist Chot Reyes maintained a lot is left to be desired with his team’s play.
“The only way we can go deeper into the playoffs is if everyone on the team really elevates their game,” he said. “What got us here will not get us to where we want to be.”
Reigning best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, JP Erram, and old reliables Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams will spearhead TNT’s charge.
Three quintets–the Kings, Beermen, and Tropang Giga — are perennial contenders. Can the Painters spoil the party?