Ginebra Gin Kings, Meralco Bolts unahan sa 2-1 Finals lead

Laro Ngayong Linggo (Enero 12)
(Araneta Coliseum)
6:30 p.m. Meralco vs Barangay Ginebra
(Game 3, best-of-seven Finals series)

MAKUHA ang 2-1 bentahe ang habol ng Meralco Bolts at Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings sa Game 3 ng PBA Governors’ Cup Finals ngayong Linggo ng gabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Magsasalpukan ang Gin Kings at Bolts ganap na alas-6:30 ng gabi para mahablot ang importanteng bentahe sa serye.

Nakauna ang Gin Kings matapos mahablot ang 91-87 panalo sa Game 1 noong Martes ng gabi bago rumesbak ang Bolts sa pagtala ng 104-102 panalo sa Game 2 noong Biyernes ng gabi sa larong ginanap sa Quezon Convention Center sa Lucena, Quezon Province.

Umaasa si Meralco coach Norman Black na maipagpapatuloy ng Bolts ang mahusay na naipakita sa Lucena kung saan kumana ito ng PBA Finals franchise record na 16 3-pointers.

“But you never know when it’s going to come. Last game, we couldn’t hit the side of the ocean so we never know when it’s going to fall,” sabi ni Black.

Hangad naman na Gin Kings coach Tim Cone na gumanda ang kanilang depensa papasok sa Game 3.

“We battled back which I’m proud of but that’s not going to be enough for this series. Being proud of the guys is not going to win the series for us. We’ve got to do more,” sabi ni Cone. “We’re just a poor defensive team (Friday night).”

Gamit ang box-and-one defense, nagawang burahin ng Gin Kings ang 19-puntos na bentahe ng Bolts bago kapusin sa Game 2.

“They pulled a box-and-one (in Game 2) and we want to do a better job against it on Sunday,” sabi pa ni Black. “I thought we actually did a pretty good job against it in the second half once we realized they were in a box-and-one, we’re able to do a better job at it. But at the same time, it changed the momentum. Now we want to be more prepared (against it) next game.”

Sasandalang muli ni Black si Allen Durham, na nagtala ng 21 puntos, 18 rebounds at 6 assists sa Game Two, maliban pa kina Raymond Almazan, Chris Newsome, Baser Amer at John Pinto.

Aasahan naman ni Cone sina Justin Brownlee, Stanley Pringle, Japeth Aguilar at LA Tenorio para makuha ng Gin Kings ang ikalawang panalo sa kanilang Finals series.