Bakbakang Gin Kings, bolts simula na!
Unahan sa Game 1
MANILA, Philippines — Ang kanilang pamatay na opensa ang muling ipapakita ng Barangay Ginebra habang itatapat naman ng Meralco ang matibay nilang depensa.
Sisimulan ng Gin Kings at Bolts ang kanilang best-of-seven championship series ngayong alas-7 ng gabi sa Game One ng PBA Governor’s Cup Finals sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ito ang ikatlong pagkakataon sa huling apat na season-ending conference na magtutuos ang Ginebra at Meralco para sa korona.
Iniligpit ng Gin Kings ang Bolts sa Game Six noong 2016 at tinakasan sa Game Seven noong 2017.
“It’s going to come down to playing good basketball. I think that’s what both coaches try to preach,” sabi ni Ginebra coach Tim Cone sa Meralco ni mentor Norman Black. “And they’ve been the best defensive team this conference by far, and the best rebounding team this conference.”
Hangad ng 62-anyos na si Cone, isang two-time PBA Grand Slam champion, ang kanyang ika-22 korona bilang coach.
Muling sasandigan ng Gin Kings sina resident import Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson, Jeff Chan at ang bagong hugot na si Stanley Pringle.
Itatapat naman ng Bolts sina two-time PBA Best Import Allen Durham, Chris Newsome, Baser Amer, Cliff Hodge at mga baguhang sina 6-foot-8 Raymond Alamazan at rookie Bong Quinto.
“I talked about our defense all the time, but Ginebra is the leading shooting team in the league and they lead the league in assists. So our defense will be shown and tested,” sabi ng 62-anyos na si Black, isang one-time PBA Grand Slam titlist, na asam ang kanyang ika-12 kampeonato.
Wala pa sa kanilang mga line-up sina Pringle, Almazan, Maliksi at Quinto nang magduwelo ang Ginebra at Meralco sa dalawang PBA Finals ng Governor’s Cup.
“I’m gonna give everything I have. They know that, my teammates know that. We gonna be ready to play,” sabi ni Pringle, nakuha ng Gin Kings mula sa NorthPort Batang Pier kapalit nina Kevin Ferrer, Sol Mercado at Jervy Cruz.
Isa namang diehard fan ng Ginebra si Almazan, nahugot ng Meralco buhat sa Rain or Shine.
Dahil kapwa hangad ang korona ay posibleng matuloy sa Game Seven ang bakbakan ng Gin Kings at Bolts kagaya nang nangyari noong 2017 na inangkin ng tropa ni Cone.
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