by Jonas Terrado
Game Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. – Magnolia vs Ginebra
(Magnolia leads series 1-0)
Magnolia, carrying renewed confidence, tries to make it two in row over defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and move one step closer toward a finals trip tonight in Game 2 of their best-of-five PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series.
The Hotshots snapped a seven-game skid against the Kings two nights ago with a 106-98 victory at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, prompting import Romeo Travis to declare that his team has a firm belief that winning the series is doable.
“I feel like we finally believed that we can beat them. Before it was in question, but now I feel like the guys feel that they know that we can beat them,” said Travis, who scored a PBA career-high 37 points.
Travis, however, cautioned that Ginebra is groomed to unleash a big fightback in the 7 p.m. and avoid falling to a dreaded 0-2 hole in the series.
“(Ginebra’s) not gonna lay down,” he said. “They got a great coach, they got great players, perennial champions, so they’re gonna come back and it’s not gonna be easy.
“But it’s possible. And that’s all I want the guys to know that it’s possible. That’s what we’re gonna go for in the future.”
Paul Lee will look to continue on his 27-point showing in the series opener while much are expected from Ian Sangalang, Justin Melton, Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon, among others, to continue their sharp form, particularly on defense when they were able to buck a 39-31 first quarter deficit.
Magnolia successfully make Ginebra import Justin Brownlee work for his shots after making his first seven attempts for 20 of his 37 points in the first quarter.
Brownlee went 5-of-21 in the final three periods, and was quick to admit that Ginebra fell into Magnolia’s trap.
“I think we got too dependent on our offense,” Brownlee said. “We didn’t focus on our defense anymore. I think we just fell in love with our offense because we were scoring so well.
“But we gotta remember that we’re a defense-first team, and I think that was just the biggest difference after that first quarter.”
The Kings hope to get more production from Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson and Sol Mercado, who combined for 17 points.
Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio were the only players, aside from Brownlee, to reach double figures with 18 and 13 points.
