By JONAS TERRADO
Game Wednesday
(AUF Gym powered by Smart 5G)
6 p.m. – TNT vs Ginebra
(Ginebra leads series 1-0)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel tries to repeat over TNT and gain a 2-0 lead as the PBA Philippine Cup Finals resumes Wednesday with Game 2 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Tipoff is set at 6 p.m. with Ginebra aiming to build on its 100-94 overtime win in Sunday’s series opener while having an additional advantage with TNT star Ray Parks Jr. doubtful due to a calf problem.
Parks, who missed TNT’s opening assignment against Alaska last Oct. 11 due to the same injury, was seen walking gingerly during the second half which saw him lead the Tropang Giga on a third quarter comeback that later went in vain.
Asked about the Parks situation, Ginebra coach Tim Cone said nothing has changed as far as the complexion of the series is concerned.
“We’ll believe it when we see him out of uniform,” Cone said. “(It) doesn’t change anything for us. We prepare the same way.”
Parks dropped 19 points in a losing effort as TNT had no answer for LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson, Finals Most Valuable Player winners from previous title runs, and Stanley Pringle.
Most of the attention will likely be on how Tenorio organizes the Ginebra attack after dishing out 10 assists, including the game-tying layup of rookie forward Arvin Tolentino, who’ll try to contribute after scoring 14 in a surprise starting role.
The Ginebra quartet is expected to provide the chunk of production, something the Tropang Giga will look to counter or even contain.
TNT is eager to bounce back and hope that Parks can come out and play through pain, Jayson Castro providing stability, RR Pogoy being efficient on offense and for Poy Erram and Troy Rosario to sustain whatever good things they do on both ends.
Veteran Jay Washington could also play a pivotal role anew after nearly helping the Tropang Giga take Game 2 with back-to-back threes late in the fourth.
