BARANGAY Ginebra swings back into action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as it tackles San Mig Coffee on Sunday, hopeful the weeklong respite would work to its advantage.
A sellout crowd is expected at the Smart-Aranet Coliseum for the 5:15 p.m. grudge rematch between the two teams that fought all the way to a Game Seven in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup.
Ginebra guard LA Tenorio said the Kings’ 4-3 semifinal loss to the Mixers could hopefully turn to a positive to psyche up the team in the import-spiced conference.
“Iyan (losing in the Philippine Cup semis) ang part of learning kasi sa team namin, we need to mature. Siyempre, marami kaming mga bago so we need to grow,” said Tenorio after the team’s practice at Green Meadows in Libis, Quezon City.
“Playing against a strong team like San Mig, hopefully, maging ready na kami at matuto na kami,” he said.
Ginebra split its first two games this conference, beating Barako Bull, 108-104, before getting lynched by sister team San Miguel Beer, 96-112.
Meantime, San Mig will try to keep its immaculate slate intact against Ginebra following its impressive 91-75 whipping of Globalport on Wednesday.
Coach Tim Cone said fans have yet to see the best of import James Mays, who had a quiet debut of 15 points and six rebounds after running into foul trouble early in the game against the Batang Pier.
“We have a high energy import in big James. He had his moments (against Globalport), but I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet,” said Cone, who has engineered the Mixers’ back-to-back PBA championships recently.
Mays will be ranged against Leon Rodgers, who will try to break out of a shooting slump, which saw him shot just 2-of-17 from beyond the arc in two games with the Kings.
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