GAME 4 will dictate the direction of the best-of-seven semifinals war between Star and Barangay Ginebra as they resume hostilities in the playoffs of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
Still ahead 2-1 in the series, the Hotshots will try to get back on track and move on the hill while the rejuvenated Gin Kings are going for the equalizer in their 7 p.m. Game 4 clash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Trailing 0-2 to start the series after losing close battles in Games 1 and 2, Ginebra knew it needed to take Game 3 to make a fight out of its duel with Star and it surely delivered when needed.
The Gin Kings pulled away late en route to a low-scoring 73-62 Game 3 victory over the Hotshots last Monday night.
Getting back into the thick of things in the series is more than enough for Ginebra coach Tim Cone to believe that the momentum have swung in his team’s favor heading to this next encounter.
“Our guys stayed organized despite our 0-2 deficit. The good news now is that we’re back in the series. It’s not even yet but we’re back in now and looking to tie,” said Cone.
Veteran guards Sol Mercado and Mark Caguioa led the charge in Game 3, each having solid showings on both end of the floor with the former scoring 16 and the latter adding eight timely points off the bench.
Cone thought those were the difference the last time out.
“Sol (Mercado) was outstanding especially with his defense on Paul Lee. I thought Mark (Caguioa) was also really key for us,” said Cone.
After running circles around his guards in the first two games, Lee was neutralized by Mercado and held to only seven points, his lowest scoring game in nine years.
After missing the series’ first two games, versatile Ginebra forward Joe Devance returned in Game 3 to give his squad some quality minutes and a much needed boost.
Devance is expected to continue playing hurt in Game 4 and provide some much needed stability in Ginebra’s offense.