(From Manila Bulletin)
Games this Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — San Miguel vs Purefoods
7:30 p.m. — Alaska vs Ginebra
Alaska coach Tim Cone knows very well that closing out a series is the toughest thing to do, particularly if it is against Barangay Ginebra.
But just the same, the Aces will go for it as they collide with the Kings in Game 4 of their semifinal showdown in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska, which has a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Final Four series, meets Ginebra in the main game at 7:30 p.m., right after the 5 p.m. encounter between Purefoods and San Miguel Beer.
Another win by the Aces will enable them to become the fourth team in league history to sweep a best-of-seven series.
But Cone expects another down-the-wire showdown with the Kings.
In Game 3, Alaska blew a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter (65-88) when Ginebra used a 23-2 run capped by a layup by Mark Caguioa to cut the deficit to only two, 88-90, with 37.8 seconds left.
But the Aces held on to win the game that put them on the verge of a return trip to the finals.
With the way the Kings erased that huge lead, Cone said there's no way for them to be complacent as anything can still happen.
"If it's against other teams I might (be comfortable), but we're playing a very dangerous team Ginebra," said Cone, who is also eyeing his first sweep in a seven-game series since he took over as coach of Alaska in the late '80s.
The two-day rest, Cone said, could be beneficial to Ginebra, which had a tough quarterfinals series against erstwhile champion Talk 'N Text, winning it in fives game.
Since they clinched a semis slot, the Kings had one day to prepare for Game 1, as well as Games 2 and 3, thus taking its toll on players nursing injuries like forward JC Intal, who averaged 23.8 points in the quarters but was held so far to seven points per game in the semis.
While Intal has yet to recover his top form due to leg injury, Ginebra may play again without Erik Menk and Celino Cruz. Menk suffered a groin injury in Game 1, which forced him to miss the next two games. Cruz sprained his right ankle also in the series opener.
"They've had a couple of days off to re-gather and refresh themselves, so we're expecting a stiffer challenge. We're just going to focus on those things that have made us successful and try to keep our momentum," Cone said.
In the 35-year history of the PBA, only three teams have swept a seven-game series, the last was Ginebra against Red Bull in the 2008 Fiesta Cup semifinals.
Games this Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — San Miguel vs Purefoods
7:30 p.m. — Alaska vs Ginebra
Alaska coach Tim Cone knows very well that closing out a series is the toughest thing to do, particularly if it is against Barangay Ginebra.
But just the same, the Aces will go for it as they collide with the Kings in Game 4 of their semifinal showdown in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska, which has a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Final Four series, meets Ginebra in the main game at 7:30 p.m., right after the 5 p.m. encounter between Purefoods and San Miguel Beer.
Another win by the Aces will enable them to become the fourth team in league history to sweep a best-of-seven series.
But Cone expects another down-the-wire showdown with the Kings.
In Game 3, Alaska blew a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter (65-88) when Ginebra used a 23-2 run capped by a layup by Mark Caguioa to cut the deficit to only two, 88-90, with 37.8 seconds left.
But the Aces held on to win the game that put them on the verge of a return trip to the finals.
With the way the Kings erased that huge lead, Cone said there's no way for them to be complacent as anything can still happen.
"If it's against other teams I might (be comfortable), but we're playing a very dangerous team Ginebra," said Cone, who is also eyeing his first sweep in a seven-game series since he took over as coach of Alaska in the late '80s.
The two-day rest, Cone said, could be beneficial to Ginebra, which had a tough quarterfinals series against erstwhile champion Talk 'N Text, winning it in fives game.
Since they clinched a semis slot, the Kings had one day to prepare for Game 1, as well as Games 2 and 3, thus taking its toll on players nursing injuries like forward JC Intal, who averaged 23.8 points in the quarters but was held so far to seven points per game in the semis.
While Intal has yet to recover his top form due to leg injury, Ginebra may play again without Erik Menk and Celino Cruz. Menk suffered a groin injury in Game 1, which forced him to miss the next two games. Cruz sprained his right ankle also in the series opener.
"They've had a couple of days off to re-gather and refresh themselves, so we're expecting a stiffer challenge. We're just going to focus on those things that have made us successful and try to keep our momentum," Cone said.
In the 35-year history of the PBA, only three teams have swept a seven-game series, the last was Ginebra against Red Bull in the 2008 Fiesta Cup semifinals.
No comments:
Post a Comment