Game 7: Ginebra, San Mig Coffee battle for all marbles

Ginebra’s Game 6 hero Greg Slaughter eludes Rafi Reavis for a shot in Monday’s clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum. August dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — Ato Agustin talked with so much confidence one would think he has Tim Cone all figured out.

It could be adrenaline, or plain carelessness, but the fact of the matter is Agustin practically laid out his Game 7 game plan for the world to hear.

And Cone, the veteran that he is, certainly knows when there’s blood in the water.

“Nakuha na namin ang (We figured out the) formula the last time out, walang pagbabago sa (there will be no changes in) Game 7,” said Agustin after steering Barangay Ginebra to a Game 6 nipping of Cone’s San Mig Coffee that forged Wednesday night’s do-or-die battle for the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup’s second title slot.

Game time is 8 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum with Ginebra playing with the veritable homecourt advantage because of the massive following it commands.

Mixers in a meat grinder

But Cone has all the experience coaching in a Game 7—and the players who know what it’s like to be in a meat grinder such as this one.

“It’s been a great series, a tough series with a lot of drama,” said Cone on Monday night after letting Game 6 slip away.

“It seems only fitting that it goes to a Game 7. No doubt, Game 6 was a tough one for us to swallow.

But this is what we play for. As my daughter always reminds me: The two best words in sports—‘game seven.’”

Painters await winner

The winner of this match will advance to face Rain or Shine in another race-to-four affair starting Friday.

The Elasto Painters will come into the championship series fully rested after toppling Petron Blaze in just five games.

The Mixers won the last Game 7 they played, and that one was for last season’s Governors’ Cup against the favored Petron Blaze Boosters.

Marc Pingris was the hero in that game. He was almost the hero again Monday night.

And unlike Cone, Pingris, who will be coming off a 20-point effort that led all San Mig shooters, pumped himself up with an ominous prediction: “Amin pa din ’yan (This series is still ours).”

No team has won consecutive games, with Cone winning all the odd-numbered games.

Greg Slaughter carried the Kings in Monday’s endgame and will obviously again see major minutes together with point guard LA Tenorio, former MVP Mark Caguioa and Japeth Aguilar.

It would also be interesting to see if Cone will play Joe Devance more than he did in Game 6, where he used his talented forward for just 15 minutes even though Devance was part of the five that opened up a 14-point first-half lead.