GAME TODAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 p.m. – SMB vs. Ginebra
FOR one team, it will be its last game of the season while the victor will get to savor—and cheer the chance to win it all.
Which squad will remain in the title hunt will be known when Ginebra takes on San Miguel Beer in the deciding Game 7 of their best-of-7 semifinals duel tonight in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings and the Beermen show up at the Big Dome’s storied hardcourt at 7:30 p.m. with the winner earning a shot at grand slam-seeking TNT in another race-to-4 series set to start on July 13.
In the protagonists’ biggest tiff of the season-ending tilt, Ginebra coach Tim Cone maintained that how his prized big man, Japeth Aguilar, can hold his ground against the Beermen’s reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo should spell the big difference.
“We’ll take Game 7 as it comes. The coaching staff will worry about that and the players will work on trying to get back. We got to get Japeth ready to play 48 minutes against June Mar and that’s a tall, tall order,” Cone said. “There’s a lot to prepare for Game 7.”
After losing two straight in Games 4 and 5, the Kings lived to fight another day via a gripping 88-87 decision over SMB in their sixth clash last Sunday night, thanks to a dagger of a three-pointer by veteran playmaker LA Tenorio.
The likes of Tenorio and Aguilar will combine with former MVP Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Jamie Malonzo, Troy Rosario, and Stephen Holt.
Title-less the last three conferences, the Beermen will pin their hopes on Fajardo, CJ Perez, Juami Tiongson, Don Trollano, Rodney Brondial, Marcio Lassiter, and Mo Tautuaa.
Cone said his charges are determined not to let their skipper’s heroics the last time out go to naught.
“I was just thinking just now, that if by chance, if by chance we win this championship, this is the game everyone will remember right here. That shot of LA’s,” he said. “He’s given us a chance. He’s given us a chance to go into Game 7 and still fighting for a championship.
“So, we’ll see what we can do.”
Ginebra advanced to the Big Dance of the first two meets of this 49th season but fell both times to the Tropang 5G.
TNT is already in the championship round, keenly awaiting a rematch with the Kings—that is, if SMB will allow it.
