#PBA2015 PREVIEW: BGY. GINEBRA GIN KINGS vs SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN – HELLUVA HANGOVER
Both Ginebra and SMB are winless to start the conference, and they definitely something to rouse themselves and get something going.
Ginebra has gone 0-2 so far, losing to both Meralco and Barako Bull. Throughout these games, the Gin Kings have struggled to find consistency, especially from usual reliables like Japeth Aguilar and Joseph Yeo. Ginebra will surely need both guys to step up against the Beermen.
The Beermen, on the other hand, got ambushed in their previous game against Kia. They weren’t able to take advantage of Peter John Ramos’s fouling out. Guys like Chris Lutz, Alex Cabagnot, and Marcio Lassiter, in particular, underplayed.
Here are some things to watch in this game:
- BEERMEN IN A CHAMPIONSHIP HANGOVER
It sure seems like the Beermen are still hung over their golden run in the previous conference. They shot badly against Kia from the field and from the line. They also missed all but one of their 24 three-pointers.
2015 Philippine Cup record: 14 wins and 5 losses
Right now: 0 wins and 1 loss — to Kia.
- KRAKEN GOT CRACKED
The Kraken is the reigning PBA MVP and the Best Player in the Philippine Cup, but even he had a hella tough time trying to go up against Kia import Peter John Ramos. It was a great learning experience for Fajardo, who’s usually the biggest guy on the court. For a change, he was the one going up against a much bigger foe.
Season stats: 17.7ppg, 12.8rpg, 1.5apg, 2.0bpg, 55.8 FG%.
vs Kia: 18pts, 8rebs, 2blks, 8/16 FGs.
“Sabi ni Coach, kapag bakante sa labas tumira ako, kasi hindi naman nagcha-challenge si PJ Ramos, kaya itinitira ko. Tsaka tira ko naman talaga yun, nagmi-mintis lang talaga. Syempre mahirap, malaki rin eh. Mabigat rin siya, mga 400 pounds yata yun eh.” – June Mar Fajardo.
- ROBERTS: STILL SOME GETTING USED TO
By all intents and purposes, Ronald Roberts was solid for SMB, but he wasn’t exactly dominant. He did grab 22 rebounds, but he turned the ball over 3 times and shot just 39% from the floor. If the Beermen are to try and win back-to-back titles this season, they’ll need Roberts to play even better.
vs Kia: 18pts, 22rebs, 2blks, 38.8 FG%.
- SMB’S SHALLOW BENCH
Another key negative for SMB in that game was its shallow bench production. SMB was actually -29 in bench scoring against Kia, with guys like Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, and Ronald Tubid putting up a lot of bricks.
Kia bench: 44pts
SMB bench: 15pts
- PROBLEMS IN THE BARANGAY
The Gin Kings haven’t been able really put a lot wins together because they haven’t been executing well. Also, another factor is how import Mike Dunigan doesn’t seem to be complementing the team as well as had been hoped. His presence seems to have taken a lot of shots away from Japeth Aguilar, while other guys have also been struggling. They’re actually dead last in scoring and FG%. And, despite their huge frontline, are second-to-the-last in blocks.
Scoring: 71.0ppg (dead last)
FG%: 33.5% (dead last)
2nd chance pts: 6.0ppg (dead last)
“Our problem now is how we execute our plays. Sometimes sabog-sabog talaga.” – Coach Ato Agustin
- NOT SHINING SO BRIGHT LIKE A DUNIGAN
Speaking of Mike Dunigan, the import hasn’t really been impressive, too. As of this writing, he is dead last among all imports in scoring, FGs made per game, FG%, and blocks. For sure, he needs a big game and to lead GIN to a win, or he may be on his way out.
Scoring: 14.0ppg (last)
FGs made: 4.0 per game (last)
FG%: 34.8% (last)
Blocks: 0.0 per game
- TOWERING HIGH & LOW
The local twin towers of Ginebra haven’t been playing consistently well. Greg Slaughter has been great, but Japeth Aguilar has been pretty much non-existent. Japeth’s numbers have gone way down and Greg has been good, sure, but the Kings need both to be productive if they want to make some noise in this conference.
Greg stats so far: 20.5ppg, 12.0rpg, 1.0bpg, 48.5 FG%
Japeth stats so far: 1.0ppg, 1.0rpg, 25.0 FG%
- DRUNK ON DOWNTOWN
One of the things that actually contributed to SMB’s downfall in their previous game was their atrocious three-point shooting. The Beermen really fell in love with shooting from beyond the arc, but, unfortunately, it was a one-sided affair as they connected only ONCE out of twenty four attempts. Needless to say, they’ll need to shoot better than that against Ginebra.
SMB: 1/24 3pt shooting – 4.2%
Lutz: 0/2
Cabagnot: 0/5
Lassiter: 0/2
Santos: 0/10
Tubid: 1/3
- KINGS OF STRUGGLE
As for Ginebra, their woes go much deeper, with many of their big names failing to deliver so far this conference. Aside from Greg Slaughter, no other local is averaging double-figures in scoring. Their average point differential is actually -6 as well. These Kings are undoubtedly struggling big time.
Average Scoring:
- YEO – 3.5
LA TENORIO – 3.5
- HELTERBRAND – 1.5
- ELLIS – 1.0
- PREVIOUS MEETING: INSTANT CLASSIC
The San Miguel Beermen had to weather a big, late rally from never-say-die Barangay Ginebra but came away with a tight 79-77 victory to move into solo second place in the PBA Philippine Cup. Reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while Arwind Santos led the way with 22 points as San Miguel improved to 5-1 for the season. The Beermen saw their 15-point, fourth quarter lead wiped out by the comebacking Kings, but they made enough clutch baskets and free throws down the stretch to escape with the win. Chris Lutz added 10 points, while rookie Ronald Pascual had seven, including a big three-pointer in the last two minutes that helped stem the Ginebra rally. Ginebra slipped down to third place with 5 wins against 2 defeats. The Kings were led by Greg Slaughter, who had 16 points and 17 big rebounds, and Japeth Aguilar, who scored 9 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter but blew a potential game-tying alley-oop in the final minute.
Last game against each other:
GIN Leaders:
Greg Slaughter – 16pts, 18rebs2blks
Japeth Aguilar – 15pts, 6rebs, 7/13 FGs
Jayjay Helterbrand – 10pts, 6asts, 4/7 FGs
SMB Leaders:
Arwind Santos – 22pts, 9rebs, 3 triples
June Mar Fajardo – 21pts, 15rebs, 4blks
Chris Lutz – 10pts, 7asts, 3rebs
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