The “Empire” strikes back
Sorry for lifting this headline from a popular sci-fi American movie.
Can’t help it.
Did you really think Tim Cone would allow Ginebra to fall into the sinkhole on a 0-2 tally?
Of course not.
“We had to make mental adjustments,” the Ginebra mentor told PBA reporters after the Gins clinched a 99-93 hard earned win that evened their best of seven series at one apiece.
The team mindset, this is what Cone was referring to.
Handicapped by Japeth Aguilar’s absence due to a calf injury sustained against NLEX in the semis, Cone saw the vacuum and needed to have it filled up ASAP.
Actually, no one could fill in Aguilar’s shoes, not even if Christian Standhardinger had an identical twin to come to the rescue.
Did you notice how Ginebra fought differently with Brownlee re-assuming the lead role that he was called and tasked upon to do?
JB poured in 36 pts, collected 13 rebounds and issued 9 assists for a near triple double.
And the highlight of his performance was the lightning speed with which he yanked the ball out of Chris Banchero’s hand who had already taken the rebound to put in a two-handed slam.
That was the point where Meralco was already catching up, (91-94) time down to 1:22 in the fourth. JB’s dunk gave the Gins enough breathing room, 96-91 and also killed the euphoria in the Meralco bench.
I would commend lavishly Cone’s strategic defense his boys clamped on Game 1 hero Alein Maliksi who produced an egg and on Chris Newsome’s steady backcourt orchestration with only 7 this time.
Maliksi put in a huge 24 to propel the Bolts in the opener and give coach Norman Black a reason to smile.
Mind you, Game 3 is going to be more physical. And the team that blinks and loses its cool will lose.
The momentum has gone back to Brgy. Ginebra but the pressure remains on Cone’s shoulders.
Black will diagnose why Maliksi went zero all the way.
In the same manner, he will clinically, like a heart surgeon, analyze how JB was able to get away from his Meralco guards.
Something somewhere went wrong for Meralco.
Aaron Black did alright, much better I think. In fact, he impressed everyone with his sterling performance in scoring, assisting and in defense.
The young Black was responsible for bringing back life to Meralco when the Bolts were down by 20-points at one point.
The scores: Ginebra 99 – Brownlee 36, Thompson 16, Tenorio 13, Standhardinger 12, Pinto 10, Chan 7, Mariano 5, Salado, Onwubere, DeVance, Ayaay 0.
Meralco 93 – Bishop 31, Black 24, Banchero 14, Newsome 7, Alamazan 6, Quinto 5, Hodge 4,Baclao 2, Hugnatan, Maliksi 0. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
