BARANGAY Ginebra and TNT aim for a 2-0 lead against separate opponents in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup semifinals.
San Miguel and Rain or Shine, on the other hand, are looking to tie the series. In this preview, we reveal why Mo Tautuaa and Santi Santillan will need to play a major role in their bid to bring the semifinals into a deadlock.
BARANGAY GINEBRA VS. SAN MIGUEL
When: Friday, June 27. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Barangay Ginebra eyes 2-0 lead
Barangay Ginebra vies for a 2-0 advantage in the semifinals against San Miguel after Wednesday’s 73-71 win where the Gin Kings overcame an 18-point defici. San Miguel will look to tie especially with the status of June Mar Fajardo in doubt after sustaining calf tightness in Game 1.
How June Mar will be used for Game 2?
June Mar Fajardo dodged a serious injury after doctors gave the eight-time PBA MVP clearance to play Game 2. In the series opener, Fajardo only scored six points although he hauled down 19 rebounds. With calf injuries hard to manage, San Miguel is being understandly extra careful with Fajardo, and head coach Leo Austria hinted that his minutes might be managed, if he is going to play at all.
Need for more free throws
San Miguel lost Game 1 by only two points despite going to the free throw line just eight times. Coincidentally, the last time the Beermen shot this few from the foul stripe was also against Barangay Ginebra in their elimination round encounter where the Beermen attempted just 10 last April 25.
Mo Tautuaa must bounce back
With June Mar Fajardo’s injury, it has become apparent that Mo Tautuaa must step up for Game 2. After averaging 12.7 points over the last three games, Tautuaa was a non-factor in Game 1 where he was held scoreless, shot just one attempt, and grabbed only one rebound. Tautuaa was also saddled with fouls and played only 16 minutes and 17 seconds.
RAIN OR SHINE VS. TNT
When: Friday, June 27. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
TNT seeks two-game lead
TNT defeated Rain or Shine, 98-91, in Game 1 of the best-of-seven semifinal series. The Tropang 5G got off to a strong start to the semis after surviving two knockout games in the quarterfinals against Magnolia, and are now going for a 2-0 lead against the Elasto Painters.
Rain or Shine overwhelmed off the boards
The biggest adjustment Rain or Shine must do for Game 2 is to neutralize TNT’s domination off the boards. The Elasto Painters were badly outrebounded in Game 1, 59-44, and gave up 10 rebounds each to Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. Caelan Tiongson, Jhonard Clarito, Santi Santillan, and Mike Malonzo had at least seven rebounds each for Rain or Shine, but it was not enough for Game 1.
Turnover story in Game 1
If there is something that Rain or Shine must continue to do for Game 2, it is their ability to force turnovers. In Game 1, Rain or Shine had seven steals and forced TNT to 19 turnovers. The steals also didn’t help Rain or Shine display its style of play which is their quick pace as they only scored seven fastbreak points, a conference-low.
Santi struggles offensively in Game 1
For only the second time this conference, Santi Santillan scored in single digits after finishing with only five points, the lowest in the Philippine Cup. The previous low for Santillan was also against TNT when he only had seven points on 2-of-8 from the field in their May 21 game. He can change that trend in Game 1.
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