Ginebra returns to finals, knocks out San Miguel in 5 games

09:22 PM October 4th, 2016

Barangay Ginebra pummeled San Miguel Beer hard in the first and third
quarters, and rolled to an emphatic 117-92 triumph to make the PBA
Governors Cup Finals before a roaring crowd of over 20,000 at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.
Starting both halves with a high-octane effort, the Kings reigned over the
Beermen and gained the right to battle the Meralco Bolts in a title duel
starting Friday also at the Big Dome.
Two huge quarters 33 points in the first and 36 in the third proved to be
all Ginebra needed to end long absence in PBA Finals since the 2013
Commissioners Cup.
Justin Brownlee churned out a near triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds
and seven assists while Sol Mercado and Scottie Thompson both bounced back
hard from a scoreless showing in Game Three as the Kings dethroned the
reigning champs.
Thompson sparkled with a career-high 24 points and 15 rebounds while
Mercado sizzled with 18 markers, including five three-pointers.
LA Tenorio also played big with 18 points, 10 assists and six rebounds while
Dave Marcelo and Aljon Mariano put in crucial relief jobs.
Aside from their sterling numbers, Brownlee and Tenorio shone brightly on
their double-teaming defense on June Mar Fajardo whom they limited to
seven markers.
With over five minutes to go, San Miguel coach Leo Austria started to pull out
his core players and took a chance on their reserves to no avail.

After wavering in the face of SMBs fiery fightback in second quarter, the
Kings worked on another vicious salvo in the third and sustained the effort all
the way through.
Ginebra led 45-38 at the end of a bizarre opening half marked by a huge salvo
by the Kings in the first quarter and an even bigger unanswered run by the
Beermen in the second.
The Kings stormed to a 37-12 lead on a 23-to-nothing roll then the Beermen
quickly got back in the game, 36-37, on a 24-0 counterattack the third alltime longest unanswered run in the league.
Thompson and Mercado presided over their early breakaway, combining for
24 points in the opening period.
Then Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter led the way in SMBs
second-quarter fightback, highlighting their blitzkrieg with five three-pointers.
The Beermen battled into the game despite a mere one-point output from
Fajardo in the first half.
But theres no stopping the Kings from blowing the Beermen out in the final
half.

Cone says first-timer Meralco the experienced side,

not Ginebra
11:59 PM October 4th, 2016

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone isnt into the impression that his team
will be facing a first-timer in the finals in Meralco.
In fact, Cone gives the edge in experience to the Bolts, who will be in their first
finals appearance since joining the PBA in 2010.
Thats not a first-timer, said Cone, who didnt even let the reporter finish his
question, after steering the Gin Kings to the championship round for the first
time since getting swept by the Alaska Aces in the 2013 Commissioners Cup.

Cone, who sealed his 30th finals appearance, said that Meralco cant be
considered a rookie in the big stage with veterans like its coaching staff,
headed by Norman Black, and leader Jimmy Alapag.
Norman Black is not a first-timer. Its all about the leadership over there.
They dominated Talk N Text and it wasnt that close, Cone said, referring to
the other semifinals series where Meralco knocked off top seed TNT in four
games.
The organization may be new to the finals but hes been there multiple times,
Luigi Trillo is over there which is really a thorn in my side because he knows
me well. He knows what I like to do and I had a lot of trouble with him when
he took over Alaska. So I dont see them as a novice group that everybody else
does, he added, referring to the Meralco assistant coach.
And also, you got Jimmy there too. Obviously, Jimmy knows how to win, he
knows how to make his teammates win and to me, they are the experienced
group, not us.
Black, Luigi Trillo and Alapag have 18 championships between them.
Cone also flashed back to his first year as PBA coach and mentioned the many
times he and Black were on opposing benches.
Ive had my battles with Norman, through the years, obviously. I remember
the year I came in to the league 1989 was the year that he won the Grand Slam
and so I felt my whole career was based on trying to climb over him because
Baby (Dalupan) was retiring soon and he was the new benchmark so Ive
always been chasing Norman.
Decades have passed since that time and Cone had overtaken Black in both
win total and number of championships. He also has Blacks number as far as
their finals head-to-head is concerned.
As per the leagues head statistician Fidel Mangonon, Black has never beaten
Cone in a championship series.