Every game a must-win

Barangay Ginebra has two chances to clinch in its best-of-five semifinal series against Smart Gilas but Kings coach Joseph Uichico said he’s not thinking of a Game 5 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Tonight, the Kings will try to dispose of Gilas in Game 4 at the Araneta Coliseum. They could’ve sealed it last Wednesday but Gilas survived, 100-88, to finally nail a win in the tie. The winner of the series advances to play Talk ‘N’ Text in the finals – to start either Wednesday or Friday. 

If Ginebra wraps it up tonight, Game 1 of the finals will be on Wednesday, Game 2 on Friday and Game 3 in Puerto Princesa next Sunday. If Gilas extends the series to a Game 5 on Wednesday, Game 1 of the finals will be on Friday and Game 2 in Puerto Princesa on Sunday. No matter what happens tonight, Puerto Princesa will host a finals encounter next Sunday – either Game 2 or 3.

Gilas could’ve been sitting on a 2-1 edge now instead of Ginebra. In Game 1, Ginebra eked out a 97-96 win, buoyed by a significant disparity in fastbreak points, 25-7. Ginebra import Nate Brumfield and Gilas’ naturalized player Marcus Douthit neutralized each other by scoring 31 points apiece, allowing the locals to decide the outcome. The Kings prevailed despite knocking down only 1-of-9 from three-point distance while Gilas buried 7-of-20. Ginebra had the edge in rebounds, 58-54, assists, 19-18, free throws converted, 20-17, and field goal percentage, .432-.414. Because it was so close, the little things made the difference. Two missed free throws down the stretch killed Gilas’ chances to bank the icebreaker. And Douthit’s inability to produce a single assist hurt Gilas’ execution.

In Game 2, Ginebra continued to control the boards, a key element in its attack. Gilas learned its lesson in Game 1 and took away Ginebra’s transition baskets. In fact, Gilas scored more fastbreak points, 14-5. But Ginebra was unforgiving in defense, forcing Gilas to 17 errors and scoring 13 turnover points. 

With its running attack stalled, Ginebra went to Brumfield in the halfcourt and the burly Oklahoma Baptist star didn’t disappoint. He hit a conference-high 45 points, including 23-of-27 free throws. Brumfield’s foul line attempts matched Gilas’. In all, Ginebra sank 35-of-45 charities compared to Gilas’ 21-of-27.

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Gilas wouldn’t be denied a win to stave off elimination in Game 3 last Wednesday. Ginebra still had more rebounds, 53-50, but shot poorly from the floor, 33 percent to Gilas’ 46 percent. Gilas had more turnover points, 17-11, more assists, 19-14 and more three-point makes, 10-8.

Ginebra’s backcourt was hardly a factor as Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid and Willie Miller hit a combined 1-of-15 from three-point range. Brumfield got away with 30 points but Gilas guard Jvee Casio duplicated the output and Douthit finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. Aldrech Ramos contributed 15 points in a stellar cameo role. For the Kings, Yancy de Ocampo was the only local in twin digits.

De Ocampo has resurfaced in the semifinals because on defense, he’s the best match-up against Douthit, height-wise. Besides, center Enrico Villanueva is out with an ACL injury and Eric Menk hasn’t played at all since the end of the quarterfinals. Before the semifinals, De Ocampo had played only once in the conference, going scoreless against Powerade last March 11. But now, De Ocampo is getting a lot of playing time. Because he has a respectable outside shot, De Ocampo is able to lure Douthit away from the interior.

Uichico said during the Holy Week break, he didn’t call for practice on Good Friday. Gilas coach Rajko Toroman called off practice last Thursday but regrouped his troops the next day.

For Uichico, thinking about a Game 5 is out of the question. If Gilas wins tonight, Uichico realizes Ginebra will be under the gun in a winner-take-all showdown on Wednesday because of the momentum and youth factors. The Kings will treat Game 4 tonight as a do-or-die battle.

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“Every game for us is a must-win,” said Uichico. “We are handicapped against a 6-10 center (Douthit). We’ll use Yancy, Billy (Mamaril) and Nate on Douthit.”

Uichico said aside from muzzling Douthit, a priority is to contain Casio and Chris Tiu. “We were able to limit Tiu or Casio during the series but it’s hard to stop both,” he said. “As for Douthit, we’ll just do the best we can. We didn’t shoot well in Game 3 and Casio had 30.”

In Game 1, Casio was limited to three points and Tiu tallied 12. In Game 2, Tiu erupted for 22 and Casio shot 14. In Game 3, Tiu was held to only two points but Casio netted 30, including 7-of-9 triples.

Uichico said his goals for Game 4 are simple – no points in the paint, no three-point shots and to shoot well. 

Toroman said his worry is Brumfield. “Our players in position four are too light for Brumfield,” he noted. “We have to stop him with team defense. Also, we have to stop their wing players like what we did in Game 3. If we win tonight, Game 5 will be more difficult.”

Toroman said regardless of the outcome, he’s proud of how his players overachieved in the conference.

“If we win or lose tonight, I have to be proud of the players because they showed a high level of basketball, sportsmanship and fair play,” said the Serbian. “What is very important as the key to winning the game is our defense and some things that we can’t control.”

Ginebra’s ability to close out on Gilas’ shooters will be severely challenged tonight especially when the Kings gang up on Douthit and force him to pass off. Experience is on Ginebra’s side but Gilas has youth and lots of young legs. Gilas’ quickness is a cause for Uichico’s concern. 

Ginebra will play physical defense and try to throw off Gilas’ rhythm. The Kings will exploit Brumfield’s power and invite the double team to free up Caguiao, Tubid and Miller. They’ll play aggressive and go strong to the hole. As for Gilas, they’ll look to Douthit to control the middle with help from Japeth Aguilar and Ramos. Casio, Tiu and Barroca will use their blinding speed to escape from the defense but expect Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz to explode. Neither Lassiter nor Lutz has scored in double figures in any game in the semifinals so they’re overdue. In the eliminations, Lassiter averaged 16.1 points and Lutz, 8.3. 

It should be a big Easter thriller at the Big Dome tonight.