- Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang Giga, leading 2-1 in their respective, go for pivotal leads in their respective PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
July 2, Wednesday – Mall of Asia Arena
- 5pm – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs San Miguel Beermen
- 7:30pm – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs TNT Tropang 5G
June Mar Fajardo (with ball) won’t let a slight tear in his calf muscle stop him from leading the Beermen’s series-tying bid. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
The best strategy may not be enough for Barangay Ginebra or San Miguel Beer to prevail in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series.
“[It’s] possible [that] the healthier team will likely have the advantage in this series,” Scottie Thompson said in Filipino after the Gin Kings took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven affair with Sunday’s 100-90 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Injuries to some of the league’s top stars have been hounding not just the Ginebra-San Miguel series, but also the other semifinal tussle between TNT and Rain or Shine.
FILE–Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra may have gotten the upper hand over San Miguel Beer anew in its PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series, but there’s no reason for the Gin Kings to take their foot off the gas pedal.
Following the Gin Kings’ 100-90 win in Game 3 that put them ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, star guard Scottie Thompson knows nothing is safe especially against a team like the Beermen.
“This is big for us but it’s not guaranteeing anything because we know San Miguel’s a veteran team,” said the do-it-all guard. “They know what to do after coming off a loss so we have to be ready for Game 4.”
San Miguel Beermen’s Kris Rosales during a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Kris Rosales wasn’t heavily used by San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round or even in the quarterfinals.
It’s a much different story in the semifinals.
“I want to take advantage of the time given to me, whether it’s three, five minutes or whatever the case may be,” said Rosales with Inquirer Sports after losing Game 3 of the semis to Barangay Ginebra at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.
Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson during a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game between the Gin Kings and the San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
By the time the lights were shut down at Araneta Coliseum late Sunday evening, Scottie Thompson had every reason to gloat about Barangay Ginebra’s decisive advantage.
Instead, the one-time MVP was circumspect.
“This is big for us but it’s not guaranteeing anything,” Thompson said after Ginebra’s 100-90 win over San Miguel Beer in Game 3 of their Philippine Cup semifinal. “San Miguel’s a veteran team. They know what to do after coming off a loss so we have to be ready.”
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