Author: Martin Dale D. Bolima
Photo Credit: PBA
The PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals got underway last week, and one team has emerged as arguably the best of the final four to top Rebanse’s Weekly Ranking PBA Edition.
1. TNT Tropang Giga
In these semis, the Tropa made light work of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the first two games, holding down their fellow no. 1 seed to a measly 81 points in Game 1 and just 91 in Game 2. TNT slipped up a bit in Game 3, allowing Rain or Shine to score 110 but was nonetheless a bucket away from going up 3-0 despite Jayson Castro’s absence (and Kelly Williams still out).
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson continues to produce all-around numbers, averaging 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks, while Rey Nambatac is proving to be a true-blue X-factor for the Tropa, chipping in 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists against his former team.
2. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Ginebra could very easily have been up 3-0 against the San Miguel Beermen if not for Terrence Romeo’s spectacular OT performance in Game 2 that leveled the series at 2-1. All series, the crowd darlings have looked like the superior team, displaying that familiar player and ball movement and using a relentless, aggressive defense to slow down the Beermen just enough. It also helps to have super import.
Justin Brownlee is leading the way again, as expected, with Stephen Holt (18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists) and Maverick Ahanmisi (15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists) providing plenty of help.
3. San Miguel Beermen
Truth be told, San Miguel is lucky to be down 2-1 in this semis series against Ginebra rather than 3-0 because the crowd favorites have so far looked like the better team overall. The Beermen have looked good for stretches, particularly in the third quarter of Games 2 and 3 but have yet to find consistency.
Eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo is posting 17.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game but has largely been contained by that swarming Ginebra defense, leaving import EJ Anosike (31.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists) trying to do more. If San Miguel wants to turn things around, it better start figuring out ways to truly unleash The Kraken.
4. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
The Elasto Painters looked dead in the water after getting blown out by TNT in the first two games of their semis showdown. But they showed signs of life on Sunday, eking out their first win of the series and finally unleashing that vaunted offense that TNT had by and large managed to keep in check.
But Yeng Guiao will need Game 3 heroes Aaron Fuller (26 points, 16 rebounds on 10-for-15 from the field) and Leonard Santillan (20 points, 6 rebounds on 4-for-7 from deep) to lead the way moving forward if Rain or Shine is to truly make it a series against TNT.
Semis action takes a two-day break, with the games resuming on Wednesday, October 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. TNT vs. Rain or Shine will be the curtain-raiser, with San Miguel vs. Ginebra as the main game.
