GAMES TOMORROW
(Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay)
5 p.m. – Ginebra vs. SMB
7:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs. TNT
GINEBRA coach Tim Cone probably does not believe in miracles.
Except perhaps in the semifinals where his charges have beaten the mighty San Miguel Beermen twice—in the series opener and Game 3 via a 100-90 victory.
“We didn’t play a good game the last time out (83-100 defeat in Game 2 last week). We had to tip our cap to San Miguel because they were stinging from that Game 1 loss and they knew that June Mar was going to be playing limited minutes. So, their guys came out and played with tremendous energy and just basically outworked us, outplayed us in Game 2,”
Cone said. “But I’m just really proud of the guys for steadying themselves. It just feels like when you look back and beating San Miguel seems like a miracle sometimes.
“They’re just well-coached. They play to their strengths. They have so many weapons and they all contribute. What a team,” he added.
With RJ Abarrientos showing the way with a game-high 24 points that he laced with nine rebounds and eight assists, the Kings took the edge 2-1 in the race-to-4 Last Four duel for one of the two slots in the Big Dance of the season-ending tilt.
Jamie Malonzo chimed in 20 markers, seven boards, and two dimes while Japeth Aguilar, former MVP Scottie Thompson, and Stephen Holt had 18, 16, and 10 points, respectively, for Ginebra.
The Kings try to pin the Beermen against the ropes in the fourth tiff tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena, ready to pounce on an SMB side that has reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo playing despite a calf injury.
While admitting he has a banged-up team, Cone maintained the three-day respite before Game 4 can be handy.
“It’s really hard to play three games in five days. I mean, it’s really tough. We don’t do it during the eliminations and so when it comes to the playoffs, playing three games in five days is really tough,” he said. “You saw what happened in the first game, that third game was really, really hard.
