SMB, Ginebra maglalasingan sa semis

MANILA, Philippines — Huling naglaro ang Barangay Ginebra sa championship series ng PBA Philippine Cup noong 2020 sa loob ng Clark bubble.

Ang makabalik sa All-Filipino Cup Finals ang misyon ng Gin Kings sa pagsagupa sa San Miguel Beermen sa best-of-seven semifinals series na magsisimula bukas sa MOA Arena sa Pasay City.

Limang sunod na taon pinagharian ng San Miguel ang Philippine Cup sa likod ng bantog na ‘Death Five’ lineup sa pamumuno ni eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo.

Bukod kay Fajardo, ang natira na lamang na mga miyembro nito ay sina Marcio Lassiter at Chris Ross habang wala na sina Arwind Santos at Alex Cabagnot.

“I don’t see a lot of difference, honestly. I mean, you know, Marcio is still there. Ross is still there,” ani Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “Those guys are such huge veterans. They know the game so well. They know each other and they know the team so well.”

Hindi na nagamit ng No. 1 Beermen at No. 4 Gin Kings ang kanilang mga hawak na ‘twice-to-beat’ advantage sa quarterfinals matapos sibakin ang No. 8 Meralco Bolts, 108-97, at No. 5 Converge FiberXers, 88-80, ayon sa pagkakasunod.

Katuwang ngayon nina Fajardo, Lassiter at Ross sa SMB sina scorers CJ Perez at Juami Tiongson.

“We always say if you’re going to win an All-Filipino, you have to go through San Miguel at some point. Whether it be in the quarters or the semis or the finals, you have to go through them to have a chance to win a championship,” ani Cone.

Magtutuos naman sa isa pang semis series ang TNT Tropang 5G, hangad makumpleto ang PBA Grand Slam, at Rain or Shine.