BARANGAY Ginebra shoots for a 2-0 lead against defending champion Talk ‘N Text in the resumption of their best-of-seven finals confrontation for the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup title on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Gin Kings took Game 1 of the best-of-7 series last Wednesday, 102-100, behind Justin Brownlee’s game-winning jumper with six-tenths of a second to go.
Now, the league’s most popular squad will try to sustain the momentum they got from that nail-biting win in the their 7:30 p.m. encounter with the Tropang 5G.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted that he wasn’t happy with how the Gin Kings played in the second half that saw his charges blow an 18-point lead. Fortunately for the Gin Kings, RJ Abarrientos was there to keep their poise with his timely long bombs, before Brownlee delivered a dagger that sealed the win.
“I wasn’t happy about the third, fourth quarter, that’s for sure [because] we lost control of the game in the fourth quarter as it has been for much of the second half,” said Cone, who was not exactly relishing the win.
“We hit some big shots and, RJ hit some big shots, but we lost our lead, and I just felt we weren’t defending like we were (doing) in the first half,” added the Ginebra bench tactician.
The American mentor said the Gin Kings’ near collapse in Game 1 might have been owing to the tough times they went through in their semifinal encounter with Rain or Shine which they beat in six games.
Although they have the momentum, the Gin Kings will have to dig deeper if they are repeat over on Tropang 5G and bolster their chances of ending their three-year title drought.
“I expect the same kind of game in Game 2 and the rest of the series,” said Cone, who is bidding to win his 26th league title as PBA coach.
Abarrientos finished with 24 points, Brownlee had 23 points and eight assists, big man Troy Rosario added 16 and nine rebounds while Scottie Thompson had 15-5-6, but it was Brownlee who made the shot that mattered most for Ginebra in the series opener.
Indeed, the Gin Kings will have to come fully prepared as they are dealing with the Tropang 5G — a team that does not wilt easily under pressure.
The Gin Kings will also have to make adjustment against TNT’s import Chris McCullough who is undoubtedly adjusting too well too with the Tropang 5G.
Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson have been stepping up big for Ginebra, though Japeth Aguilar, Jeremiah Gray, Ralph Cu, among others will have to contribute as well for the Gin Kings.
Aside from McCullough, TNT’s local stars in Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana, Rey Nambatac and sharpshooting guard Jordan Heading are delivering the goods for the team.