Series changer
Tim Cone has used all sorts of words to describe how the first four games of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals have gone down.
But he is at a loss to describe what to expect in Game 5.
“That’s anybody’s guess,” Cone said as his Barangay Ginebra tries to reclaim the lead in the title playoffs on Sunday in its clash with defending champion San Miguel Beer at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“I’m as shocked as everybody is,” he added after a 130-100 Game 4 win that tied the series at 2-2. The first four matches of the best-of-seven series have now decided by an average margin of close to 31 points. “We’re like lobbing grenades at each other back and forth.”
At least, San Miguel Beer counterpart Leo Austria knows what has happened to his side in their two losses, and he’s going to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
“What was lacking was our effort and by effort, I mean outworking the opponent. We had a lot of that in Games 2 and 3,” Austria said after Game 4.
The series opener, which Ginebra won, 127-99, saw San Miguel play at 70 percent capacity, according to Austria. “It was like a walk-through for us,” he said then.
The team that won in the first four games shot the lights out in those nights, with the Gin Kings coming off a 64-percent shooting clip on Friday, an astounding mark that the Beermen didn’t find the answer to.
It was the best shooting by any team in the series, with San Miguel’s two blowout wins having the Beermen making an average of just over 52% of its shots.
“If you tell me before this series that we are 2-2 after Game 4, I’d be happy,” Cone said. “Our goal has been to take this series to seven games, and we’re closer to our goal.”
San Miguel still remains the favorite in this title race and considering how the Beermen bounced back after being mangled in the series opener, Cone has a basis to be worried.
“This [big Game 4 win] doesn’t make us very secure for Game 5. if you think you won big that you’re going to win the next game, it scares me even more. It happened after Game 1,” Cone said.
Both teams are expected to go all out as the Game 5 winner will gain a pivotal edge in what is now a best-of-three—and Sunday’s match could end a string of routs in the series.
