Ginebra and NLEX face off in the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors Cup
BARANGAY Ginebra and NLEX failed to advance to the semifinals, but they are focused on improving as much as possible.
The Gin Kings and the Road Warriors could have done better at the playoffs’ top spots.
The Kings and the Road Warriors, who both suffered elimination in their respective elimination games, will meet in one of the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra, as the third seed, has a chance at an easy path to the Final Four, while NLEX needs to win two straight to take the backdoor to the semis and upset the seeding.
It’s a rematch from the semifinals of the last Governors Cup, which the Kings won before beating their old rival, Meralco, in the championship game.
While Ginebra is the favorite to beat NLEX as the defending champions, coach Tim Cone is worried about the team due to injuries and the absence of key players like Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio.
The Kings, however, are confident in their ability to perform.
“Down the stretch, we just need to concentrate harder. As a seasoned squad, we could have done better. “Gin Kings import Justin Brownlee lamented Friday night’s disappointing loss to TNT.
“That place’s biggest problem was turnovers. Additional rebounds were given to us. We had a respectable hit rate. We did a good job of passing the ball around; we have nearly 30 assists between us. I’m proud of what we accomplished collectively. However, the final few minutes of the fourth quarter were our undoing, “Brownlee remarked.
The Tropang Giga defeated the Kings by a score of 114-105 thanks to a strong finish, moving them into first place in the quarter to face the eighth-ranked Phoenix Super LPG.
When NLEX lost 120-106 to San Miguel Beer two nights prior, it dropped from fourth to sixth place, and NLEX’s Road Warriors were eliminated from playoff contention.
For this reason, coach Frankie Lim and his squad must beat the Kings at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday to force a decisive game.
However, Wayne Selden Jr. and the rest of NLEX face an uphill battle against a seasoned Ginebra squad led by Brownlee.
If NLEX is to have any chance, guys like Kevin Alas, Don Trollano and Brandon Rosser will need to take the lead.
Final Thoughts
The PBA Governors Cup has been an exciting season, with many teams vying for a spot in the semifinals. Unfortunately, both Ginebra and NLEX fell short in their respective elimination games and are now facing off against each other in the quarterfinals. While Ginebra is the defending champions and the favorite to win, they face some challenges due to injuries and the absence of key players.
Justin Brownlee, the Gin Kings import, acknowledges that they need to concentrate harder and avoid turnovers to have a chance at advancing to the semifinals. On the other hand, NLEX needs to win two straight games to take the backdoor to the semis and upset the seeding.
It’s going to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. Ginebra has the advantage according to the latest PBA odds, but NLEX is going down with a fight. Ultimately, it will come down to who executes their game plan better and wants it more. Regardless of the outcome, both teams are focused on improving for the future, and their fans can expect to see more exciting basketball from them.
