#PBA2015 GOVS’ CUP PREVIEW: ALASKA ACES vs BGY. GINEBRA KINGS – SETTLE THE SCORE

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The Alaska Aces and Ginebra Kings have played each other just twice this season, with the Kings winning the first meeting, 101-92, and the Aces getting payback in the Commish Cup, 104-98. Now it’s the third game between these two storied ball clubs, and it’s time to really settle the score.

The Aces are coming off a great win over Blackwater. They completely dominated that game,  thanks to a well-balanced attack. Against a deep and slightly retooled team like GIN, ALA will need that same kind of production again.

GIN made the headlines recently by trading Joseph Yeo for Sol Mercado. Mercado joins a loaded GIN PG corps, which already has Gilas playmaker LA Tenorio and quality back-ups like Josh Urbiztondo and Emman Monfort. It’s going to be very interesting to see how coach Frankie Lim spreads the minutes in his debut as a PBA head coach.

Here are some things to watch in this game:

1. RAVES FOR ROMEO

One guy GIN will need to check is ALA import Romeo Travis, who was very efficient despite playing under 29 minutes for the Aces. ALA didn’t really need him to play much, though, as they thoroughly dominated BLA, but it will be a different story against a loaded GIN squad. Travis will need to be at his best when ranged against GIN imports Orlando Johnson and Sanchir Tungalag.

vs BLA: 18pts, 12rebs, 2asts, 2stls, 1blk, 7/11 FGs.

2. BANCHERO BUENISIMO

One big reason ALA had an easy time against BLA was this guy stepping up. Chris Banchero did really well in that game, coming off the bench to score 13 points on 5/8 FG shooting. He also helped out on the boards and in ball distribution. If he can continue being a spark for ALA’s second unit, they will be tough to beat.

vs BLA: 13pts, 6rebs, 3asts, 5/8 FGs

3. CASIO’S COMEBACK

It was also nice seeing JV Casio playing well. Casio, who has been having his worst pro season, reminded everyone of why he can be considered among the league’s top PGs. He started for ALA and gave a good account of himself, scoring 13 points and nailing all three of his attempts from the great beyond. If he can be consistent with this kind of production, ALA has a solid shot of beating GIN.

vs BLA: 13pts, 2rebs, 2asts, 2stls, 3/3 3pts

4. SPEED SPEED SPEED

Another thing ALA did well against BLA was to run the break and score in transition. The Aces outscored the Elite, 19-8, in transition, and that will be a valuable weapon against a team that focuses on size like Ginebra. If Alaska can exploit its quick pace and dictate the tempo, the Gin Kings will be in a world of trouble.

FB pts: ALA 19, BLA 8

5. TURNOVER-PRONE

GIN, meanwhile, will have to cut down on its turnovers if it wants to start its third conference with a win. The Kings were among the worst in taking care of the ball last conference, and, hopefully, having another PG in Sol Mercado will help them lessen their mistakes.

Commish Cup: 16.5 turnovers per game, 10th in the league
Slaughter – 2.5 TOs per game
Tenorio – 1.9 TOs per game
Baracel – 1.9 TOs per game

6. DEFENSE! DEFENSE! AND THEN OFFENSE! OFFENSE!

One good thing the Kings did well in the last conference was to keep their opponents’ scoring low. GIN was actually the #1 team defensively, but the problem was they had a hard time scoring. GIN limited its foes to just 88.0ppg, but the Kings themselves scored just 89.6ppg. GI needs to keep its D tight but, at the same time, find novel ways to score.

Pts allowed: 88.0ppg – best in the league
Pts scored: 89.6ppg – 9th in the league

7. ESTABLISH THE BIG GUY

Of course, one guy GIN needs to really establish is the big guy in the middle, Greg Slaughter. Slaughter had a pretty good second conference and seems to be getting better and better as the games go by. If GIN can continue making Gregzilla a focal point of the offense, he should produce even better numbers and the Kings’ chances of winning should also go up.

Comm Cup stats: 17.0ppg, 10.2rpg, 1.8apg, 54.3 FG%.

8. BETTER CALL SOL

The big trade of the week involved newly-acquired Sol Mercado. Mercado takes Joseph Yeo’s spot in the roster, but he will probably share playmaking duties with LA Tenorio. Both were teammates before in Gilas (2012 Jones Cup), though, so they are pretty familiar with each other. It’ll be interesting if they play alongside or as relievers of each other.

Comm Cup stats: 10.6ppg, 5.0apg, 4.0rpg, 33.7 FG%

9. WHO IS SANCHIR TUNGALAG?

This is a player most Filipinos have never heard of. The only time Gilas has faced him was in the 2014 Asian Games, where Sanchir scored 15 points against the Pinoys. He is known as among Mongolia’s top two basketball players, so there are expectations for him to meet, but the jury’s out on just how much he will move the needle for the Kings.

2014 Asian Games stats: 16.6ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.4 triples per game, 38.4 FG%

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