Gin Kings shoot for 2-0 lead vs Bolts
Credit to Author: Josef T. Ramos, TMT| Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2020 16:15:15 +0000
Barangay Ginebra goes for a 2-0 lead against Meralco when Game 2 of the Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup best-of-seven Finals series unfolds tonight at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
After pulling off a thrilling 91-87 victory in Game 1, grand slam coach Tim Cone and the Gin Kings are bracing for back-to-back wins in their 7 p.m. encounter with the Bolts. But the veteran coach who is chasing for his 22nd PBA title expects another grind out game.
“I honestly feel this is the way it’s going to be every game. It’s going to be a grind-out, fight-to-the-end, let’s-see-who’s-gonna-go-on-top-in-the-last-minute type of series,” said Cone to reporters, who emphasized Meralco’s disciplined type of basketball.
“Meralco is so disciplined in the way they play it’s hard to really get them out of their tempo and so you have to play at max tempo all the way and that’s not really a comfortable tempo with us. And it really just comes down to each possession.”
Japeth Aguilar had 16 points and three blocks — including his crucial swat with Allen Durham during the waning seconds of Game 1. He is expected to step up anew, as he tries to stop the two-time Best Import from scoring in Game 2.
Justin Brownlee scattered 38 points and collared 16 rebounds, while LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle made 16 and 10 points, respectively, also in Game 1. They will be supported by 7-footer Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson and Jeff Chan.
Meralco’s Durham, however, vows of coming back stronger to tie the series in Game 2.
“We will come back stronger in Game 2,” said Durham, who established a triple-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists in that finals opener loss. “I got to shoot better. I didn’t perform to the best of my ability so I got to be better next game.”
Chris Newsome made 24 points and Raymond Almazan has double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds in that loss.