FOLLOWING two runner-up finishes in the 49th Season, Barangay Ginebra is motivated to go all the way in the PBA Philippine Cup, starting with its game on Wednesday against lowly Terrafirma.
To do so, the Gin Kings will have to click without Justin Brownlee, who spearheaded their campaign in the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, only to lose to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and TNT both times.
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Scottie Thompson said it will be an adjustment for the team as they play sans Brownlee this conference.
“Looking forward kami sa all-Filipino,” said Thompson. “For now, we have to work more. May time pa to practice and jell more na makapag-adjust without Brownlee. It’s all-Filipino. I think we are ready naman this conference.”
The Philippine Cup isn’t exactly the favorite hunting ground of Barangay Ginebra.
The last time the Gin Kings reached the finals in an all-local tournament was during the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark, Pampanga where they defeated TNT.
Before that, Ginebra’s last Philippine Cup title came in the 2006-07 season where it defeated San Miguel with a team coached by Jong Uichico and led by Jayjay Helterbrand, the Finals MVP.
In between those title runs, Ginebra only had one finals appearance in the Philippine Cup during the 2016-2017 season, where it was beaten by San Miguel.
Last season, Ginebra nearly broke its finals drought in the Philippine Cup after the Kings held a 3-2 lead in the semifinals only to lose the last two games to Meralco, the eventual champion.
Thompson knows that the road to the finals in the Philippine Cup will be just as hard, saying there are several teams that will be lookng to prevent TNT from completing the grand slam.
“Of course, maraming malalakas especially San Miguel. Of course, TNT ulit. It’s a 50-50 chance sa amin. Lahat naman ng teams, 50-50 sa all-Filipino,” said Thompson.
“Excited and at the same time, 50 years na ang PBA tapos all-Filipino ngayong conference,” said Thompson, referring to the prestige of winning the Philippine Cup this year with the league celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Gin Kings’ first game of the Philippine Cup against the Dyip will be played at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
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