THE PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup is now down to four teams with Rain or Shine facing San Miguel, and Meralco going up against Barangay Ginebra in separate best-of-seven affairs.
Game One is on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Before we watch the games, let’s recap how they got here, what to expect, and what could be the difference makers in their respective series.
Rain or Shine vs. San Miguel
When: Friday, May 14. 4:30 p.m.
Where: Mall of Asia Arena
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Both San Miguel and Rain or Shine were coming off knockout games last Wednesday to arrange a semifinal tiff. The top-seeded Beermen defeated Terrafirma, 110-91, after being forced to a rubber match even with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, while the No.-5 ranked Elasto Painters survived TNT, 110-109, in a deciding Game Three.
ELIMINATION ROUND ENCOUNTER
San Miguel beat Rain or Shine, 109-97, in their elimination round clash last March 15. Incidentally, that was the time that the Elasto Painters went 0-4 to start the conference before turning things around by racking up six straight wins to eventually take the No. 5 seed in the quarterfinals.
HIGH-SCORING GAMES?
The series between Rain or Shine and San Miguel could see high-scoring games. The Elasto Painters lead the league in scoring with 109.4 followed by the Beermen with 107.3.
Surprisingly, Rain or Shine also leads the league in points in the paint with 51.7. San Miguel, even with June Mar Fajardo around, only ranks third with 46.3.
THEY SAID IT
Yeng Guiao: Tatlong grupo ‘yung first five ng San Miguel. Wala namang team na may kakayanang sabayan ang San Miguel. Lalaban lang. Tignan lang hanggang saan makarating. Wala kaming pantapat kay June Mar. Wala kaming pantapat kay CJ, kila Terrence. Pero, pahihirapan naman sila. Ganun lang magagawa namin. Pahihirapan namin sila.”
SMB DOMINANCE OVER ROS
According to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, San Miguel is 7-0 against Rain or Shine since the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup with the Beermen’s last loss against the Elasto Painters coming in the 2021 Philippine Cup Bacolor bubble where a Rey Nambatac game-winner lifted his team to a 95-93 win last September 12.
KEY STAT
For the Elasto Painters, their scoring is also fueled by their fastbreak points, which is tops among the four remaining semifinalists at 19.1. Expect Rain or Shine to run the floor at every opportunity, with San Miguel needing to do a good job of going back on defense to contain one of the Elasto Painters’ strengths.
Meralco vs. Barangay Ginebra
When: Friday, May 14. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mall of Asia Arena
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Unlike San Miguel and Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra and Meralco cruised into the semifinals. The Gin Kings used their twice-to-beat advantage to rout Magnolia, 99-77, last May 11, while the Bolts swept NLEX, 100-81, last May 12.
ELIMINATION ROUND ENCOUNTER
It was Meralco which dealt Barangay Ginebra their first loss of the conference. The Bolts routed the Gin Kings, 91-73, last March 15 with Tim Cone even describing the defeat as “embarrassing.”
DEFENSIVE BATTLE
Both teams wear their defensive identity on their sleeve, and their elimination round game was proof of it. Ginebra and Meralco are 1-2 in the least points given up this conference with 88 and 88.2 respectively.
RIVALRY REKINDLED
Ginebra and Meralco have been perennial opponents beyond the regular season stage of the league, including, of course, their four clashes in the Governors’ Cup won by the Gin Kings. Their last playoff clash was just last season and it resulted in Meralco dispatching Ginebra, 2-1, in a quarterfinal showdown during the 2022-23 Philippine Cup.
MISSING PIECES
Both teams are not spared from injuries to key players. Meralco will play without Aaron Black following a torn ACL sustained during the elimination round, while Jamie Malonzo will not be around for Barangay Ginebra due to a calf injury.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ever since Aaron Black came down with an ACL injury, Allein Maliksi has provided consistent production for the Bolts, averaging 19.3 points in the past three games. What’s interesting is that Maliksi has only hit one three in each of those games. An explosion from rainbow country could be in the offing for Maliksi.
The past five games have been superb for Christian Standhardinger, who is filling up the stat sheet with averages of 26.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 6.2 assists during that stretch. How Meralco will defend Standhardinger could decide the complexion of the series.
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