Ginebra Secures Finals Spot with Thrilling Win Over San Miguel
In a nail-biting 102-99 victory, Barangay Ginebra secured their ticket to the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup finals, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown against TNT Tropang Giga. Head coach Tim Cone praised his team’s resilience, saying, “It took every little ounce of whatever we have left to win tonight. We were limping to the finish line.”
The Fajardo Factor
June Mar Fajardo’s dominance was a key storyline in the series. Despite Ginebra’s efforts to contain him, Fajardo still managed to score 22 points and grab 15 rebounds on an impressive 69.2% shooting from the field. However, Ginebra’s strategy of forcing him to work harder for his points and defend more paid off, as San Miguel struggled from beyond the arc.
Small-Ball Lineup Pays Off
Ginebra’s decision to utilize smaller lineups, with Justin Brownlee playing center, presented defensive challenges but ultimately proved effective. The team’s guards stepped up to play team defense and crash on the boards, with Scottie Thompson leading the charge with 14 rebounds. Coach Cone noted, “It wasn’t just about Justin [Brownlee], it was really about everybody contributing on the defensive side.”
Exploiting San Miguel’s Drop Defense
The small-ball lineup allowed Ginebra to exploit San Miguel’s drop defense, particularly Fajardo’s. Although their outside shots didn’t fall consistently, the spacing created by the drop coverage enabled them to attack the paint more effectively, resulting in a 58-52 edge in points in the paint.
Ginebra’s High-Powered Offense
Ginebra’s fluid offense was on full display, with Japeth Aguilar benefiting from the dribble penetrations garnered by the team’s guards. Maverick Ahanmisi had his best game for Ginebra, pouring in 25 points on 77.6 true shooting percentage.
Contrasting Styles in the Finals
The stage is set for a thrilling finals matchup between Ginebra’s high-powered offense and TNT’s disciplined, defense-first approach. Coach Cone praised TNT’s head coach Chot Reyes, saying, “He has turned that team into a defensive juggernaut, which reflects the personality of their best player in Rondae [Hollis-Jefferson].” The outcome will depend on which team can impose their style on the game and adapt to the other’s strengths.
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