PBA: Ginebra looks to lock down defensively vs playoffs rival Meralco

Expect a familiar hard-fought encounter when Barangay Ginebra and Meralco collide in the quarterfinals. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Barangay Ginebra and Meralco have figured in thrilling encounters in the championship series and early playoff meetings in the past. So count on the one that unfurls this week to be no different, according to Justin Brownlee.

“Everybody knows we have a history with Meralco,” the Gin Kings ace told reporters with a smile following a 103-99 overtime loss to NLEX on Sunday night.

“They have gotten better. And they’re fresh off a championship. We know they’re going to be tough. And that’s nothing new about Meralco—they’re always tough on the defensive end,” he added.

Barangay Ginebra has won six playoff meetings—including four in the Finals—against Meralco. The crowd darlings have lost the last two, including the recent Philippine Cup semifinal clash that ultimately ended in the Bolts capturing their first-ever PBA crown.

The two clubs tangle in a best-of-five quarterfinals series beginning this week, with Brownlee knowing all too well that the Bolts intend to keep the trend going in their favor, especially with the returning Allen Durham in tow.

“With Durham as their import, we know they’re gonna be ready (for us),” he said. “Hopefully we could get ourselves ready for those guys. I know coach Tim (Cone) has a great plan for us to get ready.”

“It’s going to be a fun matchup. It’s going to be competitive. I’m ready for it, and I know the guys, the whole team, and the coaching staff will be ready as well,” he said.

In a Monday game, Converge held off Magnolia, 89-82, to forge a quarterfinal showdown with the dynastic San Miguel Beer. Magnolia will take on a rejuvenated Rain or Shine crew eager to finally prove that their time-built roster is capable of winning a PBA title.

‘Older now’

The first time Brownlee won a title with Barangay Ginebra was during the 2016 Governors’ Cup, where he hit the buzzer-beating triple over Durham to put the series to bed in six games. The Gin Kings went on to win the next three title showdowns, with the pair of prolific imports last battling in the 2019 Governors’ Cup, just months before the pandemic struck.

“Allen … of course we’re older now,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s going to be a big difference. But he’s been playing great this conference. And obviously they have been having some success. They finished No. 2 (in their group), right?”

“This Meralco team has changed a lot, and this Ginebra team has changed a lot. But the mentalities are going to be the same. For us it’s going to be the NSD (never-say-die)-type of attitude, just trying to do everything we can to win the game,” Brownlee added.

“I definitely think it’s going to be a defensive series. Which team can come up with the better defensive schemes, or whoever could play better defensively, I think, will come out on top of the series,” he added. “Hopefully, we can lock down on defense and be on point.” INQ