Gin Kings, Bolts collide in critical Game 5

DEFENDING Champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco clash in a crucial Game 5 of the best-of-seven finals of the Philippine Basketball Association Season 42 Governors’ Cup today at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. Game time is set 6:30 p.m. After losing their first two games in the series—87-102 in Game 1 and 76-86 in Game 2, the Bolts came back strong behind Allen Durham and veteran Reynel Hugnatan to win Games 3 and 4, reducing the series to a best-of-three affair.

Durham, the reigning back-to-back Best Import, notched 23 of his 38 points in the second half in Meralco’s 94-81 win in Game 3. He repeated the same effort in Game 4, scattering 22 of his 28 points also in the last two quarters to lead the Bolts to a narrow 85-83.

Hugnatan, who was a non-factor in the first two games of the championship series, scored 22 points including seven triples in Game 3. Although his Game 4 performance was far from that, Hugnatan played an important role setting up Durham’s go-ahead basket in the dying seconds. He finished with 14 points including four triples.

Meralco notched the back-to-back wins without Ranidel De Ocampo. De Ocampo injured his left calf in Game 3 and has been declared out of the series.

For Meralco coach Norman Black, tying the series to 2-2 coming from a 0-2 deficit is a great morale-booster.

“We really just have to see what we can do to give our guys a little bit of rest and practice,” said Black, who also drew 18 points from Chris Newsome in Game 4.

“We make sure that we fix what we did wrong tonight (Friday) and hopefully execute better again in the next game. It’s important that we are coming fresh to the fifth game because, as you get down the road, obviously the players get tired because of the grind,” he added.

The Bolts hope to limit the production of Ginebra’s twin tower of Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, who only had seven and six points in Game 4, respectively. Coming into Game 3, Aguilar was averaging 15.5 points while Slaughter had an average of 8.5 points in the first two games of the series.

“Obviously, we didn’t neutralize Japeth and Greg. Coach Tim (Cone) will find a way to keep them going,” he added.

Barangay Ginebra, however, stays optimistic of its chances in Game 5 despite Meralco holding the momentum.

“We’re still very okay with 2-2 at this point. Obviously if you’re leading 2-0, the expectation goes up on you and your expecting more. We just came out short but they didn’t get the lead and I’m thankful to that. We are playing a tough team,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“They were able to expose our weaknesses and we were not able to play on our strengths (in last game),” he added.

Cone added the Gin Kings are going to rely more on versatility and height in Game 5 where they will miss the services of Sol Mercado.

Mercado sprained his ankle after blocking Jared Dillinger’s lay-up in the dying seconds of Game 4.

Another missing link in Game 4 was LA Tenorio, who was scoreless on 0-of-7 attempts from the field and suffered three turnovers in 31 minutes.Tenorio was the Game 2 hero, hitting 10 of his 14 points in crunch time.

Import Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 34 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in Game 4.

Meanwhile, Black said he already accepted Cone’s apology for refusing to shake his hand in Game 3 after Meralco called a timeout in the last 38 seconds although they were ahead by a big margin.

“He already talked to me personally and apologized. I think it is more than enough. We’ve been friendly rivals throughout the years. Let’s move on,” he said. KIA coach Chris Gavina said he is ready to part ways with the top overall pick, which is expected to be the 6’7 Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger, in the coming 2017 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Annual Draft on October 29.

There were reports that Picanto have offered their No. 1 pick to San Miguel Beer in exchange of veteran big man Jay-R Reyes, Keith Agovida and Rashawn Mcarthy plus the Beermen’s late first round pick in this year’s rookie draft. Officials of both camps are not confirming nor denying the report. “If this trade does push through, I think we would be getting in return Keith Agovida, a two-player who had a break out with us when I first took over and he gives us that versatile swing defender who has the capability to attack the basket with his length,” Gavina told The Manila Times through a text message on Saturday.

“Rashawn Mccarthy to me has the capability of becoming our version of Chris Ross, a player who is highly athletic and explosive, and can shoot and at the same time can defend multiple positions. I’m sure with the string of Championships both players have won that experience they could carry over to us.”

“About (Jay-R) Reyes, I feel there is still a lot in his tank and could definitely provide us a much needed boost in our front court. He is a veteran with championship experience and that goes a long way for a young team like we have,” added Gavina, noting that they could still pick a competitive player late in the first round.

“I’d love to get a chance to coach a guy like (Christian) Standhardinger but I have to be prepared to fill the gaps we have on our team with who we have now. I’m hoping we can land a big at that 12th pick,” he said.

The proposed trade though still needs the approval of the PBA Commissioner’s Office and PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said that they haven’t received the trade papers yet.

The team that will draft Standhardinger needs to wait for at least six months as the Filipino-German is still with the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions that will see action in the Asean Basketball League, which kicks off on November 17.