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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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23
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
23
2024
San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra face off Friday for the pivotal 2-1 lead in their PBA Governors Cup Final Four playoff that has proved to be an exciting battle among the combatants on the floor and between the strategists on the bench.
The Beermen and the Kings slug it out in Game Three of a continuing virtual chess match of a series at 7 p.m. at the Big Dome.
Coach Leo Austria hopes to get his Beermen to be more consistent and steadier throughout while coach Tim Cone aches for a good start by his Gin Kings.
Ginebra waged a searing second-half rally to get past San Miguel, 115-108, in Game One, then San Miguel steadied at the finish to get even in Game Two, 95-92.
“Obviously, we’re not figuring out what the problem is on why we’re starting slow or what they’re (the Beermen) specifically doing to get themselves going,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“It’s a concern, but it’s not a huge concern when we fall behind. In fact, the team plays better when it falls behind because of the crowd,” Cone also said.
But Cone of course would rather see his troops focused from the beginning. And he expects that from his team coming from their Game Two defeat.
“I’m sure we’re gonna be much better focused after losing,” he said. “It’s kind of easy to get back after you lose. It’s a little bit harder after you win. It’s something we still have to learn as a group.”
The Kings shook off a flat start and rallied from 13 points down to win Monday to the delight of their cheering fanatics. On Wednesday, Ginebra threatened to pull off the same trick but was foiled at the finish.
The Beermen heaved a sigh of relief after Justin Brownlee missed a game-tying three-point try at the buzzer.
Though blowing away a 16-point spread then barely squeezing through, SMB coach Leo Austria lauded his boys for the composure shown in the game.
“I appreciate the guys, knowing they’re tired and their morale a bit low coming from the Game One loss,” said Austria.
“We’ve learned our lesson. There were so many defensive lapses in Game One where we gave up 69 points in the second half. I hope (the Game Two win) gives us the momentum which is hard to get in this series because both teams keep on adjusting,” Austria also said.
The three-time champion SMB bench chieftain expects another tactical battle in Game Three.
“From the beginning, I’ve said it’s going to be like a chess match,” he said.
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