Friday, September 29, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports Sports Columns The Bottom Line by Lito Cinco

Second round of gin for me

Lito CincobyLito Cinco
December 9, 2020, 9:05 pm
in The Bottom Line by Lito Cinco
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

I am sure some readers would say that my picking of Barangay Ginebra to emerge winner in its ongoing best-of-seven showdown against TNT Tropang Giga is playing it safe for me.I am sure some readers would say that my picking of Barangay Ginebra to emerge winner in its ongoing best-of-seven showdown against TNT Tropang Giga is playing it safe for me.

After all, even as I am penning this piece, the Gin Kings have made it 3-1 after four games. And by the time you are reading this, I will not be surprised at all that Ginebra may have already wrapped up the series in Game 5, Wednesday night.

But then, it is a fact for me that even prior to the start of the PBA bubble tournament, I already picked Ginebra as one of the top picks, together with San Miguel Beer (I bombed out on that). In the semifinals against Meralco, again, I picked Ginebra to advance to the finals, and I knew whoever they meet for the crown, I still would pick Tim Cone’s squad.

And if ever TNT comes up with a shocking win in Game 5, Ginebra will still end up finishing the series as champion. 

So why am I so sure that crowd favorite Ginebra, playing without a crowd this time, will win the Philippine Cup? This is the strongest and most balanced squad I have seen in recent years, loaded in all positions, supported by the fact that different players are playing the hero’s role.

Japeth Aguilar is playing at his best; LA Tenorio is providing solid leadership, leading his team to victory in Game 4; Stanley Pringle is pretty consistent with his offense; and Scottie Thomson is playing all around with spunk. There’s also the supporting cast of Joe Devance, Aljon Mariano, Jared Dillinger, Arvin Tolentino, shooter Jeff Chan and big man Prince Caperal.

Then, a head coach like Tim. Give him these kinds of talent and he will end up winning a lot more games than he would lose.

What is surprising are the close games that TNT is giving Ginebra practically every night, except that blowout win in Game 3. Surprising, because the Tropang Giga are missing two key players as the series progressed.

Ray Parks, a big factor in the semis, saw action only in Game 1, before suffering a calf injury that forced him to sit out the next three games. He is a very doubtful starter for Game 5.

Then, you have veteran point guard Jayson Castro, who is bothered no end by a bone spurs problem and was not playing at 100 %. He is also a question mark for Game 5.

Even if the trio of RR Pogoy, Troy del Rosario and Poi Erram, and throw in Simon Enciso, all level up, it will not be enough to beat the loaded line up of Ginebra.

It is all but a matter of time when Ginebra crowns itself as champion. 

What I would like to look forward to, will be the 2021 basketball season, not just in the PBA, but also the UAAP, which might end up playing only the men’s and women’s basketball, though I cannot believe the league, if given the go signal can afford not to include women’s volleyball in its schedule.

The PBA is already wheeling and dealing, with lots of major trades seemingly under negotiation, if not done deals.

I just hope that the league, now that it has reached near parity for more teams, except for a few, will not allow the strong teams to get even stronger with lopsided trades.

This Sunday, THE SWAB will be featuring Part 1 of our episode on Joshua and Jerome Nelmuda, our blind paratriathletes. Please watch and be inspired with what these born-blind athletes will share. I host this vlog with my nephew Vivid Jay Gueco.

Tags: Barangay GinebraJapeth AguilarLA TenorioTNT Tropang Giga
ADVERTISEMENT
Lito Cinco

Lito Cinco

Related Posts

A collection of basketball collectors

byLito Cinco
April 11, 2022, 6:10 pm
0
16
A collection of basketball collectors

People collect different things for different reasons, but these three different folks have found the same subject matter to collect—basketball...

Read more

All things must pass

byLito Cinco
February 9, 2022, 8:00 pm
0
8
A not-so-good 2021 for me

It is a title of a song, and album, too, All Things Must Pass, by former Beatle George Harrison after...

Read more

Mitigating, aggravating circumstances

byLito Cinco
February 2, 2022, 6:25 pm
0
8
There they go, so there we went

I could have titled this “the mediation that never was”, and sports fans would have known exactly what I am...

Read more

The making of a book

byLito Cinco
January 12, 2022, 8:10 pm
0
9
A not-so-good 2021 for me

Last year, I shared that the highlight of an otherwise bad year for me was finally finishing the book “Basketball,...

Read more

Obiena’s case shocking

byLito Cinco
January 5, 2022, 7:45 pm
0
10
A sharing Christmas to all

I have long been involved with Philippine sports, with over four decades of writing experience about personalities and situations, but...

Read more

A not-so-good 2021 for me

byCharles Dantes
December 29, 2021, 9:05 pm
0
8
A not-so-good 2021 for me

A Happier New Year to all. But with two days to go till 2022, this is the time that people...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • New law boosts PH’s heritage mapping
  • Sulu waters off-limits to commercial fishing
  • How high will Obiena fly?
  • Gilas, Jordan face off for quarterfinal Asiad berth
  • Carr all set to claim Tour de Langkawi title
  • Petecio bows to Taiwanese, misses seat to quarterfinals
  • Ababa pulls off 5-shot romp as Bibat misfires
  • BSP expects faster inflation in September

Advertisement

Latest News

Petecio bows to Taiwanese, misses seat to quarterfinals

byManila Standard Sports
September 29, 2023, 9:50 pm
0
8
PH Rugby Union elects new officers

Hangzhou—Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio failed to repeat against rival Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei and made an early...

Read more

Ababa pulls off 5-shot romp as Bibat misfires

byManila Standard Sports
September 29, 2023, 9:45 pm
0
8
Ababa pulls off 5-shot romp as Bibat misfires

Clark Freeport Zone—Jhonnel Ababa came out on top of a gut-wrenching battle of wits and nerves that was nothing but...

Read more

BSP expects faster inflation in September

byJulito G. Rada
September 29, 2023, 9:40 pm
0
8
BSP readies big interest rate hike this month

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday inflation in September likely picked up to as high as 6.1 percent from...

Read more

Middle Eastern firms keen on exploring Sulu Sea for oil, gas

byAlena Mae S. Flores
September 29, 2023, 9:35 pm
0
8
DOE sees more days of tight power supply

 Middle Eastern companies are keen on exploring the Sulu Sea for oil and gas, reflecting the increased interest of investors...

Read more

Hot money posted net inflows of $311m in eight months—BSP

byJulito G. Rada
September 29, 2023, 9:30 pm
0
8
BSP readies big interest rate hike this month

Foreign portfolio investments or hot money posted net inflows of $153 million in August, smaller compared to $962 million in...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Pets
  • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Cravings
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Agriculture
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App