Past matchups no longer relevant as Beermen ready to start anew vs Gin Kings

MANILA, Philippines -- Back to square one.

After nearly blowing a 0-2 quarterfinal lead against the Converge FiberXers in the PBA Governors' Cup, the San Miguel Beermen have locked in on their semifinal matchup against Barangay Ginebra.

The two teams will kick off their best-of-seven semifinal series on Wednesday, 5 p.m., at the PhilSports Arena.

In the elimination round, Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee erupted for 51 points, a career-high, against the Beermen.

A few weeks later, San Miguel defeated the Gin Kings by 49 points last month, their biggest win in franchise history.

But now, the two teams are back to zero, head coach Jorge Gallent said.

“Thing of the past, yang 49 points na yan, na panalo kami, yung six points na talo kami, wala na yan. This is back to zero,” he told reporters after San Miguel’s 109-105 Game 5 win over Converge on Sunday.

The two squads finished the elimination round with an identical 6-4 win-loss record.

They were both on track of sweeping their opposition, with Ginebra completing a three-game series win over the Meralco Bolts.

However, San Miguel went up 2-0 against Converge, but lost the next two in heartbreaking fashion. In Game 5, they were able to hold on thanks to a massive 40-point, 24-rebound game by June Mar Fajardo.

“It’s a series, it’s adjustments, adjustments. So yung last two games namin, wala na yun. That’s just the past. The best thing about this now is we start 0-0 and we will prepare for Ginebra,” Gallent said.

In the other bracket, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will take on the defending champions TNT Tropang Giga.

Both teams finished on top of their respective groups in the elimination round.

“We’re playing a tough team, we’re playing the defending champions,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said after eliminating the Magnolia Hotshots for a semifinal berth.

They will clash at 7:30 p.m., also at the PhilSports Arena.