WHO is going to take the upper hand?
Protagonists Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel are both more than eager to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven championship series as they resume their war today in the finals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
With the series tied at 1-1, Game 3 breaks the deadlock as the Gin Kings and the Beermen try to gain a crucial advantage over the other 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Following an epic and dramatic Game 2 in Lucena City, Quezon last Sunday, the Gin Kings emerged victorious, outlasting the Beermen, 124-118, in breathtaking fashion.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone commended his wards for doing everything to tie the series up and he now looks forward to what Game 3 brings.
“It was a great Game 2. I’m just glad that we’re able to tie the series after that grueling game and we have given ourselves a chance to go to Game 3 all leveled up with San Miguel,” he said.
After suffering a bad beat down in Game 1, Ginebra flipped the script in Game 2 and led by 26 points in the second period as it seemed it is bound to cruise and duplicate the way San Miguel won in the series opener.
But the defending champions weren’t going to allow that as they bounced back in a big way in the third quarter to make it anyone’s game in the fourth.
The Beermen were actually ahead 110-108 with 3.2 seconds left but fortunately for Ginebra, Joe Devance made a putback off his own miss as time expired in regulation, tying it at 110 and sending the game to overtime where the Gin Kings went to work down the stretch.
San Miguel lost Marcio Lassiter to a flagrant and a technical foul. June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross both fouled out in Game 2.
The Beermen are now looking at a bounce back win in Game 3.
“Game 2 is over. Our focus is all on Game 3 today,” said San Miguel star Arwind Santos.
