BARANGAY Ginebra goes for a sweep of its semifinal series against NorthPort in Game 4 as Rain or Shine seeks to tie its own PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup playoff against TNT on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Here is a breakdown of the two games, and some keys to victory.
NORTHPORT VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA
When: Wednesday, March 5. 5 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Gins go for sweep
Ginebra seeks to complete a sweep of NorthPort in Game 4 on Wednesday at the Big Dome. The Gin Kings led by as many as 38 points and came away with a 127-100 trouncing of the Batang Pier to gain a 3-0 lead in the semifinal series.
The last time a sweep happened in the league, ironically, involved Ginebra but at its expense when the Gin Kings went down 0-3 against San Miguel in the 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. Ginebra, however, had swept San Miguel, 3-0, in the Season 47 Governors’ Cup semifinals
Sharing the ball
Interestingly, Ginebra produced 36 assists in each of the three games, showing that its unselfishness has been one of the reasons for victory. The assists have also led to the Gin Kings shooting an impeccable 53 percent from the field. On the other side, NorthPort had only 15 assists in two of the three matches in the series, very far from the 23 it was averaging in the eliminations.
A lot left in the tank
If Game 4 finally becomes a close game, Ginebra may have the edge not just because of its championship experience but also because of fresher legs since their top guys Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, and Japeth Aguilar have been playing lesser minutes in this series with 30, 23, and 22 respectively in Game 3.
Will to win
Needless to say, overhauling a 0-3 deficit is a daunting task, with only one team in San Miguel 2016 Philippine Cup championship team able to erase such a disadvantage. Kadeem Jack has been the only bright spot for NorthPort in the series, with Best Player of the Conference candidate Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon showing sub-par games and in contrast to their play in the eliminations.
At the end of the day, the chance of NorthPort to extend the series is come down on whether it still has the will to win.
RAIN OR SHINE VS. TNT
When: Wednesday, March 5. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
E-Painters notch first win
Rain or Shine finally got its first victory of the series with a 103-98 decision over TNT in Game 3. The Elasto Painters may have changed the course of the semifinals with the victory as the Tropang Giga are still dealing with losing Jayson Castro due to a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.
TNT no stranger to losing Game 3 in semis
The Tropang Giga need not to worry about losing Game 3. The same thing happened last conference in the Governors’ Cup when TNT dropped a 110-109 defeat to Rain or Shine in Game 3 last October 13 in Dasmarinas, Cavite, but was able to come back and win Game 4 last October 16 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum with an 81-79 decision.
ROS guards should continue to take advantage
Adrian Nocum was his usual self in Game 3 when he had eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. He got some help in the backcourt with Anton Asistio scoring 12 points and Gian Mamuyac adding nine points. With Castro out of the series, Rain or Shine's guards must continue to exploit it.
Calvin Oftana must do more
Calvin Oftana’s scoring has dropped in the past two games, averaging only 10 points after beginning the series by scoring 22 points. Oftana has combined for only 7 of 21 (33 percent) from the field in the last two matches of the series. An excellent shooting night for Oftana in Game 4 will improve TNT’s chances of gaining a 3-1 upper-hand in the semifinals.
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