Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer are set for a winner-take-all showdown for the final spot in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The two teams will clash in Game 5 of their best-of-five quarterfinal series at 7:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Final Four alongside defending champion TNT Tropang 5G, NLEX Road Warriors, and Converge FiberXers.
The winner will face TNT in the semifinals, while NLEX and Converge are set to square off in the other best-of-seven series.
Ginebra took the first two games of the series, 104-95 and 126-99, before San Miguel bounced back with consecutive victories, 101-98 and 108-102, to force a deciding game.
San Miguel veteran Chris Ross, who also serves as the team’s assistant coach, stressed that their recent victories do not guarantee anything heading into the do-or-die matchup.
Ross delivered an impressive performance in Game 4, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and five steals.
He said both teams have won two games apiece and that the series will ultimately be decided in Game 5, adding that matchups between Ginebra and San Miguel have often resulted in extended playoff battles.
Meanwhile, Ginebra coach Tim Cone acknowledged San Miguel’s strong comeback after the Beermen erased their two-game deficit, as the Gin Kings look to regroup and secure the remaining semifinal berth.
Jordan Murphy is expected to lead Ginebra, alongside Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, Troy Rosario, and Japeth Aguilar.
San Miguel, meanwhile, will rely on George King, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, and Jerrick Ahanmisi under head coach Leo Austria.
(Photo Courtesy: PBA)
