LOCKED at a game apiece, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and Meralco Bolts go for a 2-1 series edge when they collide in Game Three today of their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup finals series.
To be played anew at the Smart Araneta Coliseum beginning at 7 p.m., the Kings and Bolts are eyeing a victory that would put them a step closer to bagging the championship for the season-ending PBA conference.
Barangay Ginebra leveled its series with Meralco by holding on and winning Game Two, 82-79.
Import Justin Brownlee bounced back from a pedestrian game in the opener to tally 32 points and 12 rebounds in their win that had them fending off a spirited Meralco rally from a double-digit deficit early in the contest.
Guard Sol Mercado had 12 points, including the go-ahead basket with seconds left off an offensive rebound. Veteran Mark Caguioa, meanwhile, came off the bench to score 10.
“This was a must-win for us. We could not afford to be down 2-0. They (Bolts) have won four straight before this and the momentum was there for them. I don’t know if we broke their momentum with this but we will take the win,” said Kings Coach Tim Cone in the post-Game Two press conference.
He highlighted that defense was key for them in the win, citing how they were able to limit Allen Durham to just 22 points after scoring 46 in Game One.
“Your defense is the constant. The offense varies game to game. You may shoot well at one time and not on another. We hang on our defense,” he said.
But while they are happy to have pulled even, Mr. Cone put things in perspective, saying in the bigger scheme of things they just tied up things.
“[Meralco coach] Norman [Black] will make the adjustments. We just have to respond. The two-day break helps us. The loser is usually more dangerous heading into the next game. It gets to prepare and fine-tune their game while the winner will have to make in-game adjustments which are tougher than those of pre-game adjustments,” he said.
REBOUNDING
Left on the raw end in the last game, Meralco said it just have to pick up the pieces and move on while also underscoring that despite the loss they took solace in competing up to the end.
“We were down by 15 at one point and I’m quite happy that we were able to get back in the game. It could have gone either way,” said Mr. Black.
“Adjustments are up for us during the break, particularly in rebounding as I have told them we cannot win the series if we do not rebound. In this game we lost because of an offensive rebound by Sol Mercado,” the Meralco coach said.
In Game Two, Meralco was outrebounded by Barangay Ginebra, 49-45. It also had less offensive rebounds with 11 to its opponent’s 15.
© MYBigBrother Mike Murillo | BusinessWorldOnline