PBA: San Miguel, Ginebra in crucial clash for top two drive

Ginebra coach Tim Cone in the PBA Philippine Cup. –MARLO CUETO/inquirer.net

Unbeaten San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra face off on Friday in a possible preview of what’s to come down the road in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

Though he agrees that how things transpire after the 7:30 p.m. meeting at Smart Araneta Coliseum won’t translate to how the story of both teams in the all-Filipino tournament ends, Ginebra coach Tim Cone also wants a favorable outcome.

“I don’t think we are exactly where we want to be as a team and we expect to be better as the conference goes along,” Cone said, his Ginebra team coming off a grind out win over Magnolia last Sunday.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup

“But you’re always battling for that top two. So it’s a big game in terms of that top two [spots],” added Cone.

The top two teams after the eliminations are guaranteed of the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals against the seventh and eighth seeds, while the third to sixth placers go into a best-of-three series.

Getting the bonus will be huge for San Miguel, currently the only team without a loss at 4-0, and Ginebra, which won three of its first four matches.

Also in the early running are NLEX (4-1) and NorthPort (3-1), which eyes a crucial win over TNT in the 4:30 p.m. opener.

Adjustment period

San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent and the Beermen in the PBA Philippine Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“We know that San Miguel’s gonna get one of those two positions, and Magnolia was probably gonna get the second, so beating Magnolia was important because it still gives us a shot at that top two,” said Cone.

“I’m not saying that nobody [else] can get there, but those two guys seem the favorite. If we go out and figure out a way to come up with a victory against San Miguel, it would be a big thing in terms of helping us to the top two.”

READ: PBA: Unbeaten San Miguel gears up for Ginebra showdown

Ginebra seems to be in an adjustment period in terms of dealing with Scottie Thompson out indefinitely due to a back problem, while San Miguel has been rolling to victory after victory.