Barangay Ginebra and Phoenix Super LPG try to advance to the Finals of the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup when they face their respective rivals today, Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
The Gin Kings battle the Meralco Bolts 3:45 p.m., while the Super LPG take on TNT Tropang Giga 6:30 p.m. at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G.
Both Ginebra and Phoenix hold a 2-1 advantage in their best-of-five Semifinal playoffs and a victory today propels them to the best-of-seven Finals.
Ginebra will be looking to follow up its Game 3 victory over Phoenix which gave the Gin Kings their 2-1 edge. Stanley Pringle had 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to power Ginebra to victory.
But the game was made memorable by an unidentified person in the game venue who shouted “Ref, lutong luto ‘to ah,” at the 10:04 mark of the 4th quarter. The comment was heard loud and clear by the live TV audience.
That person may have been unhappy with the numerous fouls called on Meralco, which was whistled for 26 fouls compared to only 17 for Ginebra. Worse, Meralco’s key players Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Newsome both fouled out.
It was the first time Hugnatan and Newsome fouled out of a game this PBA season.
Meanwhile, Phoenix—powered by its Big 3 of Matthew Wright, Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins—will have momentum on its side. Phoenix beat TNT in back-to-back games after losing the opening match of their playoff.
Wright was clutch as he scored 7 of the final 9 points by Phoenix when they beat TNT, 92-89, in Game 3 of their series. Wright also had 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal to win Player of the Game honors.
Abueva—who played nearly 45 of the 48-minute game—had a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds. He added 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block.
Perkins finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. The three will have plenty of help from Phoenix teammates Justin Chua, RJ Jazul, Alex Mallari and RR Garcia.
TNT will be led by equally hard-working Ray Parks who also played 45 minutes in Game 3. Parks, like Abueva, also had a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds to go with 6 assists and 1 steal.
Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Simon Enciso will support Parks. Additionally, TNT big man Poy Erram will have to assert himself more if he wants TNT to win.
