NOW comes the hard part, according to Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
After finishing as the No. 3 team in the eliminations, the Kings tangle with sister-team San Miguel Beer today as semis action in the PBA Governors Cup gets going at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“We are playing well but San Miguel is probably playing the best in the league right now. They are really playing well. They are like us,” Cone said. “They are sharing the ball. They play defense a little differently from us.
“It is super effective, I think they lead the league in defense, I believe,” he added.
The match kicking off the best-of-five battle is set at 3 p.m.
TNT collides with Meralco at 5:45 in another race-to-3 showdown pitting sister teams.
The third seed Kings made short work of sixth-ranked NLEX 127-93 in the quarterfinals last Sunday to sustain their title dreams in the tilt they have ruled the past two years and four of the last five.
But the No. 2 Beermen are equally determined, having ripped No. 7 Converge 121-105 also in the Last 8 five days ago.
“I wish it’s a best-of-seven series because it gives you more room for error. But it’s going to be a really, really tough series even if June Mar (Fajardo) is not there,” Cone said. “They’ve proven over the past three games without June Mar that they can play at a high level without him. In fact, they play a little quicker, more of an up-and-down.
“Their import has an opportunity to dominate a little bit more inside. They’ve been able to overcome June Mar’s absence with flying colors.”
Cone will draw strength from the likes of naturalized Filipino player Justin Brownlee, reigning MVP Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Jamie Malonzo, and Jeremiah Gray.
SMB, which will still be without prized big man Fajardo (knee), SMB will bank on reinforcement Cameron Clark, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Simon Enciso, Vic Manuel, and Mo Tautuaa.
“I like it. I like it so much. I think we just need to play our game. I think our offense is natural,” tactician Jojo Lastimosa said after the Tropang Giga mauled seventh-seed Phoenix 132-105 last Wednesday in the quarterfinals. “When you see us (play), we’re not running any sets. They’re just playing.
“I think we have the length to match up with them (Bolts). I think we have enough guards to match up with their guards, and I’m fine with it.”
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, and Calvin Oftana will be counted upon by TNT, which will likely miss veteran Kelly Williams due to a calf injury.
The No. 4 Bolts outlasted fifth-ranked Magnolia 113-107 in overtime two days ago and will pin their hopes on reinforcement KJ McDaniels, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Raymond Almazan, Cliff Hodge, Chris Banchero, Aaron Black, and Chris Newsome.
