The Star Hotshots are hoping to survive the biggest challenge of their eventful showdown with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as they aim to punch their ticket to the finals tonight in Game 6 of the best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Star moved a win shy of advancing to the finals for the first time since completing a historic grand slam in 2014 after surviving a late Ginebra uprising, 89-80, at the Mall of Asia Arena last Friday. Yet, Hotshots leader Marc Pingris is preparing for war in the 6:30 p.m. encounter.
“Ito ang pinakamahirap, di sila basta-basta susuko,” Pingris told reporters after Friday’s game. “Kaya nga tinawag na ‘Never Say Die’ ang Ginebra e. Sabi nga ni coach (Chito Victolero), sa next game expect namin na war talaga – di naman suntukan – talagang piso-piso.
“Yung A-game nila ilalabas nila, at dapat ilabas din namin yung A-game namin,” added Pingris. “Kami basta ddoblehin lang namin depensa namin at mag-focus sa game. Kaya rin siguro kami nanalo sa Game 5 dahil focus kami sa game.”
Focus was indeed visible on the Hotshots after coming off two straight losses, marred by a frustrated 93-86 Game 4 defeat where Pingris and Maliksi were fined for comments and gesture made in response to the way the referees called the action.
Star complained less in Game 5, and made its shots, particularly in the third where Maliksi responded from a scoreless first half to score of his 10 in that juncture, allowing the Hotshots to take the driver seat for good.
However, Star nearly squandered a 17-point fourth quarter after Ginebra brought the lead down to seven with seldom-used veterans Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand and fellow reserves Paolo Taha, Dave Marcelo and Chris Ellis trimming the deficit down to seven.
The use of the five in lieu of struggling LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Jervy Cruz, Sol Mercado, Kevin Ferrer and Scottie Thompson, Ginebra’s top players who combined for 42 points but couldn’t get the groove that coach Tim Cone wanted to.
“We were there physically, pero mentally, wala. So siguro na nila sasabihin na luto dahil nanalo sila,” said Tenorio, who put up just five points in Game 5. “They wanted it more than us, that’s the story of the game. Minimal adjustments lang naman ang ginawa nila, but more than that, it’s our readiness going into (Game 5).”
Cone’s use of his reserves may pose as a gambit for tonight, but Tenorio was not surprised with such move.
“That’s the strategy of coach Tim. He knew that this game was… hindi para sa amin. Feeling ko ginawa na niya yun for us to be ready sa next game,” Tenorio said.
Helterbrand is hoping that Ginebra could benefit on its mantra of playing well in desperate times, or else, see themselves being ridiculed anew with another loss.
“We play better with our backs against the wall, we don’t like it when we have a comfortable lead. I don’t know why?” Helterbrand said.
“If we are awake now, then we’ll be in trouble. It was a must-win time for us, or else it’s Boracay time. Got to get this win,” added Helterbrand, referring to the Boracay Cup jokes labeled at teams that get eliminated.