BY JONAS TERRADO
Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Alaska vs Meralco
6:45 p.m. – Ginebra vs San Miguel
BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco are out to make short work of their respective foes and claim the first two semifinal berths in the start of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra tries to once again end the Grand Slam dreams of San Miguel Beer in the featured game set at 6:45 p.m. while Meralco looks to halt the upset bid of Alaska in the 4:30 p.m. curtain raiser.
Both teams are armed with the twice-to-beat advantage, though their coaches are wary of the capability of the Beermen and the Aces to overcome the odds.
San Miguel faces a major test after Arwind Santos, Ronald Tubid and Kelly Nabong were suspended indefinitely for a brawl that also included former import Dez Wells during practice.
“We certainly would have chosen a different opponent for the semis if it was within our power, but San Miguel it is,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “Control what you can control, and that is preparing ourselves the best we can.”
Ginebra did beat San Miguel 129-124 in their lone elimination round meeting last Oct. 13 at the Big Dome, a result that ended the Beermen’s 4-0 start.
Alaska, meanwhile, made the quarters despite a 0-5 start by winning five of its final six games. That should give Meralco enough reason not to take things lightly.
But Meralco did overwhelm Alaska in the elims last Oct.4 when it produced a 101-75 win at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bolts enter the playoffs reeling from a loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and coach Norman Black said how his players respond will play a role in the outcome.
“I think the key is can you bounce back from the loss?” Meralco coach Norman Black said. “Even if you get into the playoffs, if you get into the championship series, you may lose one or two games so you’re ability to come back and win the next game and stick together as a team and continue executing is really the key.”
