Editor's note: This is the final piece where we put the spotlight on each of the semifinalists of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
Part 1 - NorthPort capable of beating Ginebra with its pace, youth, depth
Part 2 - Often overlooked, TNT still the most dangerous team in Final Four
Part 3 - Nocum holds the key as ROS knocks on finals door once more
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BARANGAY Ginebra has endeared itself to its legion of fans in the Philippines because of its grit and character – the driving force behind the ‘Never-Say-Die’ mantra, a saying they’ve always tried to live by despite the near 180-degree turnaround from being perennial underdogs in the 90s to the powerhouse that it is today.
They need to embody that spirit now more than ever as they brace for a young, hungry and confident NorthPort Batang Pier side in a best-of-seven series of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals which starts on February 26.
In order to return to the championship, the crowd darlings must toughen it up and find their second, third or even fourth wind if it even gets there, as their core is still focused on their national team duties with Gilas Pilipinas.
READ: Cone, Brownlee wary of in-form NorthPort ahead of semis clash
Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, and Jamie Malonzo are all part of the Gilas pool who played three games in the Doha International Cup, and will fly out to Taiwan and New Zealand for the final two games of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifying tournament.
Tim Cone, of course, also leads this Gilas team bringing along his chief assistant Richard del Rosario and veteran guard LA Tenorio as part of his staff.
That picture pretty much paints itself. Ginebra’s gonna have to dig deep and find that inner strength to power through fatigue and the lack of a specific preparation against a very good Batang Pier squad that has checked all the boxes so far, at least when it comes to possible title contenders.
But if there’s a coach who can make sure his team comes out prepared – at least to the best that they can, it’s the 25-time PBA champion coach.
And with the thousands of people who’ll certainly be cheering their hearts out for the country’s most popular team, it would be foolish to count this team out.
What makes Ginebra dangerous?
The cop-out answer is always having a Justin Brownlee who can carry your offense when things slow down and tighten up during the playoffs.
But Ginebra’s proven to be more than a Brownlee team.
While not necessarily known for its depth, Ginebra’s probably boasting of the most stacked roster from the first to the ninth man. Aside from the aforementioned five guys in Gilas, there’s also players like RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, Maverick Ahanmisi and Ralph Cu who can contribute in a significant way for this Ginebra team.
Aside from the talent on paper, this team is probably the soundest defensive team in the league right now. Ginebra was the stingiest defensive team in the league, allowing only 90.5 points per game while limiting opponents to just 42.5 percent shooting.
They’re also one of the most disciplined squads in the league, as they are able to keep their defensive prowess without fouling only being called for the least number of infractions at 18.3.
But what truly makes this team special is how they execute. They lead the league in assists at 24.3 while only turning the ball over 13 times a game, good for second least for the entire conference.
Troy Rosario is slowly integrating into Cone’s offense and alongside the now-fit Malonzo, who’ll surely be in better game shape after his Gilas duties, this is certainly a better team on paper than the squad which made it all the way to the finals last conference.
Keep it (below) a hundred
Perhaps the most worn-out cliche in all of sports is the line “defense is the key,” but there’s no better way to perfectly encapsulate Ginebra’s chances of beating NorthPort than that phrase.
Defense is, indeed, the key that would unlock the door that leads to another championship appearance. In a battle between the league’s best defense and the most fearsome offense, Ginebra’s suffocating approach on the defensive end must truly show up.
They can’t allow NorthPort to freely go over 100 points a game in this series. They’ll have a better chance in dispatching the Batang Pier if they limit the number of possessions instead of trying to run with this team.
The best example is their lone elimination round game against the Batang Pier where they engaged the boys of coach Bonnie Tan in a shootout, and it resulted in a 119-116 loss for them.
READ: NorthPort stands ground in thriller, ends losing streak vs Ginebra
The Gin Kings are at their best when they’re controlling the pace, patiently running their sets while looking for the best possible shot for them, and if they can keep that speed, then this series is theirs for the taking.
The player that could put Ginebra over the top is… Stephen Holt
Holt will definitely be one of the most critical pieces for Ginebra this series, as aside from being fresher than his teammates donning the national team color, he’ll also serve as Ginebra’s main defensive weapon against the Batang Pier’s brilliant perimeter duo in Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon.
His offense will also be critical as together with RJ Abarrientos, they’ll be a critical source of offense for a Ginebra squad that sometimes falls stagnant in the rare times that Brownlee goes through an off night.
If Holt can consistently put up solid numbers on offense while keeping his reputation as the team’s lynchpin, then Ginebra’s still in a pretty good spot.
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