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KINGS TRY TO ELUDE ACES’ BROOM
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BARANGAY Ginebra has been in a back-against-the-wall situation before and managed to survive. But this time could be different.
The Kings are expected to go all-out Sunday and prevent Alaska from completing a sweep of their Cebuana Lhuillier-sponsored PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra’s never-say-die spirit is sure to surface anew as it did against Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals and Talk N Text in the semifinals, despite a twice-to-win handicap both times.
There are nagging questions this time around, however.
Could the Kings pull off a breakthrough win over the Aces in the conference and forge at least an extension of the best-of-five series?
Or could Alaska notch its fifth straight win over Ginebra in the mid-season tourney and thus let loose the much-anticipated celebrations for its 14th franchise title through only the league’s 12th sweep of a finals?
Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua hopes there’s still enough left in his team’s tank.
“Talagang ibibigay na ng todo ng mga bata iyan, kasi backs against the wall kami,” said Chua moments after a 90-104 loss last Friday that came on the heels of a 70-87 defeat in the best-of-five opener just two days before.
“Ako wala ng hihingin pa sa kanila,” added Chua. “They’re really giving their best, lumalaban kahit ano. Pagdating ng Sunday makikita n’yo, ibibigay nilang lahat.”
Alaska coach Luigi Trillo knows closing the duel out is going to be hard, but also believes it will take a lot of doing on Ginebra’s part to extend it. “Sunday will really test them as a team. We expect them to try harder, to go all out and we just have to be ready,” he said.
“We have a firm gameplan that’s been working. So until they figure that out then you need to keep on going with that. You maximize that.”
Trillo even offered a few things Ginebra could try but said his team is braced for anything.
“My thinking is, he’s (Chua’s) got to use his bench. We’re gonna be ready for that. We know they were going to trap, we know they’re gonna zone, I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to a small lineup. He’s gotta find a way and I’m sure he’s gonna sit down with his staff and find a way,” stated Trillo.
“We know these, we understand they’re gonna make some adjustments. We know we need to be ready for that. I honestly believe Game 3 might be gametime adjustments, kasi you can’t plan ahead. Like they’re gonna double the post, they’re gonna run halfcourt into a zone, they’re gonna use three guards, four guards. We need to just keep on doing what we do and pagdating ng game, hopefully we can see it, call a timeout and adjust in the game itself.”
Considering the fact Ginebra has been pulled down by a lemon of an import at the start of the conference, been plagued by injuries, including one to Mark Caguioa near the end of the eliminations and the current bruised right thigh by Vernon Macklin, and still plodded on all this way is an achievement in itself.
Yet Chua maintains there’s still no quit in his bone-weary players and added his hope the pro-Ginebra crowd will impart their energy to his team. “Sobra na hinihingi ko sa kanila kaya nga I’m so proud of them,” he said.
“But the series is not yet over. lalaban pa ang mga iyan,” added Chua. “They know it’s the championships and they’re not satisfied with just being here. Ang isang taong pagod na, kung minsan kahit anong energy ang ibigay mo d’yan, wala din, di ba? Pero Sunday, sa tulong ng mga tao siguradong ang mga players ko hangga’t pumapatak ang oras, lumalaban.” (NC)
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