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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Ginebra, SMB go for finishing blows

Ginebra, SMB go for finishing blows

Published Sep 30, 2024 06:17 am

At A Glance

  • One win is what separates San Miguel and Ginebra to their possible semifinals return but that is not to say that their respective Game 3 of their quarterfinals series would come any easier than the first two.

One win is what separates San Miguel and Ginebra to their possible semifinals return but that is not to say that their respective Game 3 of their quarterfinals series would come any easier than the first two.

For one, closeout games are said to be hardest and both head coaches Tim Cone of Ginebra and Jorge Gallent of San Miguel are expecting nothing less.

PBA Images20 (6).jpg

 

The Kings and the Beermen try to deliver the finishing blow in Game 3 on Monday, Sept. 30 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Ginebra looks to close out another chapter to its rivalry with Meralco in a sweeping fashion in the opening game at 5 p.m. before San Miguel gets its shot to the same against Converge in the night cap at 7:30 p.m.

With the first two games of the series easily could have gone either way, Game 2 hero Justin Brownlee would like to think that they can already close out the quarterfinals series in Game 3 although signs point that it wouldn’t be easier said than done.

“It would be great if we could (sweep the series),” said Brownlee who once again delivered a clutch trey in Game 2 – one that was reminiscent of his magic in the 2016 finals where he won the title for the Kings on a buzzer-beating triple over Allen Durham.

Ginebra barely escaped Meralco with a 104-103 with Brownlee and Durham engaging in a heavyweight duel with 39 points apiece.

“Coming into this series we definitely didn't expect it. They are a tough team. They are a good team. You know that they're gonna bounce back tonight they bounced back hard and next game, they're gonna come even harder so we definitely expect that,” he added.

Cone echoed the same sentiments, noting that it’s not a good practice to count a champion team like the Bolts out.

“They are a calm team, they don't panic and they are not gonna panic going into game 3, 4 or 5. They are gonna come back and play the game the way they know how to play it and that's what makes them so tough,” commented Cone.

In the same manner, SMB is also cautious of Converge – knowing full well that a team could even play better when shoved into an even tighter corner.

“I’m sure they're gonna come out strong. We just need to stay focused, bring that energy and not think of that 2-0 lead,” said Gallent.

“We just have to think that it's a do or die game so we're not gonna relax and  we play for 48 minutes,” he added.


 

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