In the ongoing PBA Governors Cup, at least one “independent” team – either Rain or Shine or Converge – not affiliated with either MVP or RSA will make it to the Final Four. Phoenix is another independent hoping to break into the semis. In the Philippine Cup this season, no independent crashed the semis party as San Miguel Beer ousted Barangay Ginebra and TNT eliminated Meralco. SMB went on to clinch the title via a 4-2 triumph over TNT in the finals. In the Commissioner’s Cup, ROS took out SMB in the quarterfinals and reached the semis but bowed to Ginebra while TNT disposed of Meralco to advance to the finals. In the Last Dance, Ginebra downed TNT, 4-3. ROS has been the only independent to enter the semis in two conferences this campaign and did it once.
The usual contenders are back in the Governors’ Cup playoffs. Magnolia is facing TNT. NLEX is squaring off with Phoenix. ROS and Converge are dueling. SMB and Ginebra are back at each other’s throats after their Philippine Cup skirmish. Drawing first blood in the quarters were NLEX and TNT. Phoenix had a chance to steal Game 1 but Ken Tuffin missed the back end of two free throws with 22 seconds left and failed to trim the lead to one. NLEX held on to win, 97-92. In the other series, TNT snapped Magnolia’s six-game win streak, 92-70. The four teams return to action in Game 2 at the Ynares Center, Antipolo, tomorrow.
ROS and Converge will face off in the first contest at the Smart Araneta Coliseum while SMB engages Ginebra in the second encounter tonight. ROS is No. 1 in bench points (47.2) with coach Yeng Guiao rotating starter roles for 13 players. What must bother Guiao is ROS averaging 17 turnovers, the most in the league. Worse, ROS is shooting 65.6 percent from the line, last in the conference. Converge, in contrast, is dominating key offensive stats, ranking first in offense (122.4), field goal percentage (50.6 percent), assists (29.4), rebounds (55.1), paint points (65.2), free throw percentage (80.1 percent), fastbreak points (24.3) and four-point percentage (40 percent). Five FiberXers are averaging double figure points so they’re a handful for ROS to contain. Converge is the hottest squad in the league with five straight wins and it looks like Serbian active consultant Djordje Jovicic is making an impact in working with head coach Vice Gov. Delta Pineda. ROS’ hopes hinge on defense. Aaron Fuller is an experienced workhorse and ROS’ anchor in the middle. In ROS’ six wins, Guiao’s troops held four victims to less than 100 and that kind of defensive effort is what could bring Converge down.
SMB has won five of its last six with George King, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Don Trollano humming on offense. In those five victories, SMB averaged a whopping 134.2 points. Ginebra has found a gem in Jordan Murphy, a tireless livewire whose infectious energy is rubbing off on teammates. Ginebra has won back-to-back entering the quarters and coach Tim Cone’s squad appears to be peaking at the right time. RJ Abarrientos’ resurgence from a forgettable Asian Games stint is timely and Troy Rosario is playing like a renaissance man. If only Stephen Holt can regain his shooting touch and Scottie Thompson is back at full strength, Ginebra will be tough to handle. SMB’s depth is a problem for Cone and if the Beermen control the pace, Ginebra might run out of gas in an extended series.