Star Hotshots, Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings sisimulan ang semis duel
Laro Ngayon
(Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. Barangay Ginebra vs Star
ISASAISANTABI ng Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings at Star Hotshots ang pagiging ‘sister teams’ sa Game One ng kanilang 2017 PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series ngayong alas-7 ng gabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Cubao, Quezon City.
Winalis ng Star ang kanilang best-of-three quarterfinal series kontra Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters, 2-0, habang kinailangan ng Barangay Ginebra na burahin ang twice-to-beat advantage ng Alaska Aces para ikasa ang kanilang sagupaan sa semifinals.
Sariwa pa ang reigning Governors’ Cup titleholder Barangay Ginebra sa dalawang sunod na panalo kontra Alaska, 108-97, Martes ng gabi kung saan inasahan nito ang 31 puntos ni LA Tenorio at career-high 20 puntos ni Aljon Mariano sa Big Dome at ang 85-81 panalo noong Linggo sa Ynares Center sa Antipolo City.
Na-sweep ng Star ang serye nito kontra Phoenix Petroleum sa itinalang mga tambakang panalo noong Sabado, 114-83, at noong Lunes, 91-71, mula sa mahusay na paglalaro nina Marc Pingris, Paul Lee, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang at Aldrech Ramos.
Matatandaan na binigo ng Barangay Ginebra ang Star sa kanilang paghaharap sa eliminasyon na ginanap sa Philippine Arena sa Bocaue, Bulacan noong Pasko, 86-79, matapos mag-init si Japeth Aguilar sa 32 puntos at 12 rebounds.
Gayunman, sa huling paghaharap ng dalawang koponan sa playoffs noong 2013-14 Philippine Cup semifinals ay nagwagi ang Hotshots sa Gin Kings, 4-3.
Kaya naman hangad itong duplikahin ng Star kontra sa naghahangad makabalik sa kampeonato na Barangay Ginebra.
“We expect a very hard and exciting series, a very tough series. Ginebra is a champion team, they have the experience and the chemistry that is very hard to beat,” sabi lamang ni Chito Victolero.
“Everybody played well against Alaska especially their role players,” dagdag pa ng Hotshots coach. “But we will prepare hard for the series, I know my players will be mentally and physically ready. No one expect us to be here but the team works hard for this so we will battle and fight to meet our next goal.”
Nakahanda din naman ang sa serye most popular ballclub.
“We’re looking forward to Manila Clasico,” sabi ni Gin Kings coach Tim Cone.
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