CHICAGO - With the way their first game was officiated, it doesn't really matter that the Converge FiberXers have twice-to-beat advantage over Barangay Ginebra.
Because it seems to me that Ginebra, the goose that lays the golden eggs on attendance and viewership, is just very lucky with officiating.
Before I get to the nitty-gritty, here are the bare bones: Converge was whistled for 22 fouls while Ginebra only had 15. As a result, the Gin Kings took more free throws than the FiberXers,
Although the disparity may seem deceptively innocuous and benign, a deeper dive on the swiftness and the timing of the fouls called against Converge key players Justine Arana and Alec Stockton severely disadvantaged the FiberXers.
Arana sat out the last 4:10 of the first quarter with two fouls. He was whistled for two more in the second quarter including a hideous phantom call at the 3:52 mark before halftime.
NEUTRALIZED.
Arana averaged 16.7 points and 10.1 rebounds during the elimination round. When Converge beat Ginebra, 106-96, last November 14, he had a dominant 13 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. But saddled with foul trouble last Thursday, he finished with a harmless six points and four rebounds.
Stockton, meanwhile, was called for three fouls in the second quarter including two straight that were just nine seconds apart. With already nine points to his name by then, he was forced to sit on the bench for long stretches, got cold, and scored a mere three points the rest of the way.
With their two starters neutralized, the FiberXers were weakened on defense and couldn't run their normal sets on offense. And to Ginebra's credit, they broke a 42-41 halftime affair into a 105-85 blowout.
Japeth Aguilar had a field day with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting and five trips to the charity stripe. Not having the 6-foot-7, 231-b Arana patrolling the paint not only made life easier for Aguilar, it also allowed the Gin Kings to control the boards, 51-48.
RIPPLE EFFECT.
Sure, Justine Baltazar was great with 19 points and 13 rebounds, but without Arana's threat on offensive boards and second-chance points, it was less risky for Ginebra to pack the paint and contain Balti.
After scorching Ginebra for 32 last November, Juan Gomez de Liano had a timid nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. His looks were not as open without Arana and Stockton demanding defensive attention.
Ginebra star RJ Abarrientos was terrific with 35 points powered by six triples. So was Scottie Thompson with 13 and nine dimes.
But the story in that Christmas Day game was how the referees turned out to be the Grinch for Converge.
Thanks to a twice-to-beat advantage, the FiberXers have a second chance at life on Sunday.
Sadly, it won't matter if Converge keeps getting called on those fouls that decimate the rotation while blowing up their best-laid plans.
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