WHEN San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra collide in Game 7 on Wednesday, believe it or not, it will be only the second time that they will figure in a knockout game.
According to the research of PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, Wednesday’s do-or-die clash will be the league’s 47th Game 7s – 18th in the semifinals – in league history but only the second time for the two teams against each other.
The only other time that the two faced in Game 7 was nearly 16 years on July 17, 2009 but this match-up had a lot more at stake as it was the finals of the 2009 Fiesta Conference.
This historical fact could be a good omen for today’s Beermen since they won that Game 7 against the Gin Kings almost 16 years to the date by a score of 90-79.
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SMB was coached by Siot Tanquincen during that time in what was his third and final PBA crown. He went up against Jong Uichico in that finals duel, and the two has since reunited at NLEX.
The Beermen were reinforced by Gabe Freeman and had the likes of Danny Ildefonso, Marc Pingris, Dondon Hontiveros, and Olsen Racela, who is now part of the Gin Kings as one of the assistant coaches of Tim Cone.
But it was Jonas Villanueva who starred in that finals series, wrapping up Game 7 with 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists to win the Finals MVP.
Back then, the Gin Kings were led by Jayjay Helterbrand, who was named as the Season MVP, but was missing his backcourt tandem of Mark Caguioa, who according to a report by GMA News was out for the season due to tendonitis.
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Ginebra still had a formidable core of Eric Menk, Ronald Tubid, and import David Noel even without Caguioa.
In a game account by gmanews.tv, the Beermen led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but the Gin Kings, in true NSD fashion, were able to slice the gap to seven.
Freeman had 29 points and 18 rebounds for the Beermen in the win, while Helterbrand had 25 points and seven assists in the defeat by the Gin Kings.
Will history repeat itself? San Miguel surely hopes so.
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