THE fourth game proved to be a double whammy for Ginebra.
Not only did the Kings squander their chance of pushing their foes to the brink, they also awakened the ‘Kraken’—reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen.
“Due to the frustrating result of Game 3, he (Fajardo) made up his mind na okay, kailangan ko mag-start,” SMB coach Leo Austria said. “That gave me the confidence that he’s feeling well.
“Makikita naman natin na ibang-iba iyong laro niya, iyong focus niya sa game,” he added.
Now back to square one, the Beermen and the Kings tangle in the pivotal Game 5 of their semifinals duel today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Battling through a calf injury, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo returned to his starting role and powered SMB to a crushing 107-82 demolition of Ginebra with 12 points and a game-best 19 rebounds, to go with three assists to knot the best-of-7 series at 2-2.
That tie will be shattered in the fifth game set for 7:30 after grand slam-seeking TNT tries to finish off Rain or Shine, also in their fifth meeting in this Last Four at 5 p.m.
Aside from Fajardo, the Beermen’s vaunted depth was too much for the suddenly out-of-sync Kings, with the likes of CJ Perez, Juami Tiongson, Rodney Brondial, Doon Trollano, Mo Tautuaa, and Marcio Lassiter expected to reprise their jobs.
Badly beaten the last time out, Ginebra will pin its hopes on former MVP Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Troy Rosario, Stephen Holt, and Rookie of the Year leader RJ Abarrientos.
In the other series, Tropang 5G tactician Chot Reyes is expecting nothing less than the Elasto Painters’ A-Game led by the likes of veteran Gabe Norwood, Andrei Caracut, Caelan Tiongson, Adrian Nocum, and Leonard Santillan as they try to stay alive and force Game 6 on Sunday, July 6, at the same venue.
“They’re playing with a lot of urgency. Credit to coach Yeng (Guiao). They’re making great adjustments and he’s getting his guys to play really hard so we just have to match that,” Reyes said. “In fact, we have to overcome that. They’re going to come out with their hardest effort yet in this series in Game 5.
“We have to be ready. We have no other choice. We just have to be ready.”
Already without stars Jayson Castro (knee), Rey Nambatac (groin and hip flexor), and Roger Pogoy (hamstring), Reyes’ charges face uncertainties whether gunner Calvin Oftana and veteran big man Kelly Williams can see action due to ankle sprains.
The race to the throne gets even more exciting from here.
