Beermen, Gin Kings sisimulan ang semis matchup
Laro Ngayon
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. San Miguel Beer vs Barangay Ginebra
HALIMAW ang turing ni Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone sa makakalaban nitong San Miguel Beer sa best-of-seven semifinals ng 2018 PBA Philippine Cup na magbubukas ngayon sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Cubao, Quezon City.
Hindi pa man gaanong nakapagpahinga matapos patalsikin ang Rain or Shine Elasto Painters sa quarterfinals Miyerkules ng gabi ay agad na makakasagupa ng Gin Kings ang top seed at nagdedepensang kampeon ng torneo na Beermen ganap na alas-7 ng gabi.
“We’re facing a monster. You can refer that to San Miguel Beer or you can refer that to (4-time MVP) June Mar (Fajardo),” sabi ni Cone. “We know how good they are. Motivated or unmotivated, it doesn’t really matter, they are still great. We’re gonna have a hard time.”
Bagaman dalawang beses nitong tinalo ang San Miguel Beer sa playoffs ng Governors’ Cup, sinabi ni Cone na kakaibang arena ang Philippine Cup.
“We knocked them out as we had Justin (Brownlee). We don’t have Justin now. We’re a different team without Justin and they’re a different team in all-Filipino. They’re better in all-Filipino than with imports. There’s the difference,” sabi ni Cone. “Big thing for us is whether Greg (Slaughter) can play. That will really help us equalize. That would be the great equalizer.”
Inaasahan din ni Cone na magiging mahaba at pisikal ang serye.
Pinag-iisipan pa rin ni Cone hanggang sa huling oras ng Game One kung isasabak nito si Greg Slaughter bagaman una na nito sinabi na patuloy nitong pagpapahingahin ang 7-foot-1 center at sa Game Two na lang ito maglalaro.
Umaasa si Cone na si Slaughter ang tanging susi ng Gin Kings para mapigilan si Fajardo at maipaghiganti ang kabiguang nalasap kontra Beermen noong 2016-17 Philippine Cup finals.
Patutunayan naman muli ng San Miguel Beer ang pagiging tatlong sunod na kampeon sa paghahangad nitong makatuntong muli sa kampeonato at maipaghiganti ang kabiguan sa quarterfinals kontra Ginebra sa Governors’ Cup. Matatandaang nabigo ang Beermen sa kanilang playoff matchup kontra Gin Kings sa huling dalawang Governors’ Cup.
Matatandaan na tinalo rin ng Gin Kings sa kanilang paghaharap ang Beermen, 100-96, sa eliminasyon ng 2017-18 Philippine Cup noong Enero 28.
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