Like two finals in semis

The PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals begin today with a doubleheader at the PhilSports Arena. Three teams from Group B advanced while only TNT made it out of Group A.

Group A topnotcher TNT faces Group B leader Rain or Shine in one best-of-seven semifinal series. Group B No. 2 San Miguel Beer and Group B No. 3 Barangay Ginebra clash in the other duel. For fans, it’s a twin treat, like two finals in the semifinals.

Rain or Shine and TNT haven’t matched up this conference so their encounter is expected to spring a lot of surprises. TNT is No. 1 in defense, allowing only 89.4 points. Coach Chot Reyes isn’t big on offense as the Tropa is No. 11 in average points (98.3), last in field goal percentage at .447, last in assists at 18.6 and No. 11 in points in the paint at 37.1. But TNT is No. 1 in least turnovers at 11.3 so the good news is possessions aren’t wasted. In the quarterfinals, TNT averaged 107.8 points, displaying a flexibility that Reyes will use to keep ROS guessing. The Elasto Painters like to run and score off turnovers, averaging 108.3 points for No. 2 in the standings. Coach Yeng Guiao rotates his players without a pattern, leaving opponents wondering what he’ll do next. Of 16 players who’ve seen action this conference, 14 had at least one start with Beau Belga and Luis Villegas the only Elasto Painters missing out. It’s the reason why ROS is No. 1 in bench points at 52.6. Keeping fresh legs on the court gives Guiao the advantage in a footrace. Besides ranking No. 2 in fastbreak and turnover points, ROS is No. 2 in assists at 23.9 and No. 1 in blocked shots.

Four players are averaging in double figure points for TNT – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (28.3), RR Pogoy (13.7), Calvin Oftana (12.4) and Rey Nambatac (12.1). Eight players are logging at least 20 minutes a game compared to seven for ROS. Nambatac is shooting .429 from four and .440 from three, making him a marked man from the perimeter. Reyes’ luxury is veterans Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams are in the lineup ready to stabilize proceedings. The Elasto Painters count on three twin digit scorers – Aaron Fuller (21.1), Johnard Clarito (13.1) and Adrian Nocum (11.9) – but in Guiao’s system, anyone can step in to deliver buckets as Andrei Caracut, Gian Mamuyac, Felix Lemetti, Santi Santillan, Belga, Keith Datu and Anton Asistio have done.

San Miguel beat Ginebra, 108-102, in the elims but that was with Jordan Adams. Coach Jorge Gallent’s third import EJ Anosike is now in harness and he’ll battle Justin Brownlee unless the Beermen gamble on a local stopper. San Miguel is No. 1 in offense at 112.5 points, No. 1 in field goal percentage at .474, No. 1 in points in the paint at 53.5 and No. 1 in second chance points at 48. San Miguel, however, is No. 11 in bench points as there is a heavy reliance on Gallent’s starters with five players averaging at least 20 minutes. Anosike is hitting at a 32.2 clip and June Mar Fajardo, 21.5.

Ginebra is No. 1 in three-point percentage at .376, No. 1 in assists at 24.7, No. 2 in field goal percentage at .468 and No. 2 in perimeter points at 46.4. The downside is Ginebra is last in rebounding and No. 11 in fastbreak and second chance points. Six players are averaging in double figure points – Brownlee (26.8), Japeth Aguilar (18.1), RJ Abarrientos (14), Scottie Thompson (13.9), Stephen Holt (12.2) and Mav Ahanmisi (10.3). Because both San Miguel and Ginebra use a short rotation, the series is destined to be a grind-out affair. Anosike’s resilience will be tested against Brownlee who’s an experienced veteran. Anosike, 25, is playing in his first PBA conference while Brownlee, 36, is in his 11th.