PBA Bubble SF: Ginebra (1) VS Meralco (5)

"Papunta ka pa lang, pabalik na ako"
Photo credit: Slamonline.ph

We opened the other SF entry by saying that it has a lot of history. Well, this one's got an even longer tale-- although a lot upsided than the Meralco Bolts would hope for. 

Here's what we all know so far, since Chris Newsome was added to the Bolts' line-up they have managed to almost, always face-off against Barangay Ginebra in either the playoffs or PBA Finals. And if memory serves us correctly, the Bolts have never managed to beat Ginebra in any of those match-ups specially when the latter is at full strength. 

So, can the souped-up Bolts finally get over the hump and give coach Norman Black a series win over Tim Cone? 

That's a pretty tall order. 

Taller than Japeth Aguilar, even. 

PG L.A. Tenorio v Baser Amer 

Sure, Meralco has added the bruising Nard Pinto as Amer's back-up but even at Tenorio's advanced years there is just no comparing his consistent performance as Ginebra's lead point guard vs Amer's continued on-and-off showing. Some games Amer looks like the Jimmy Alapag protege, knocking down threes off the screen and making clutch plays, others he looks as though he's lost on the court. Tenorio? Whenever he's in, what he lacks in scoring he makes up for in heady plays, swinging the ball and being Japeth Aguilar's set-up guy. 

Adv. Ginebra 

SG Stanley Pringle v Chris Newsome 

Let's just agree that Pringle is arguably the best perimeter player in the game today, so much so that it makes up for whatever (minimal) defensive lapses he commits in game. Crazy efficient, can score when needed, and with the (so far) seemingly un-defendable hop step. Not to say that Newsome is simply going to roll over and die, no. But while Newsome appeared to be headed for bigger things after his rookie year, he's been pretty much average/ okay last season and in the bubble. It's almost like he just woke up one day, and decided to go 50% when he was showing us 80% just the year before.

Adv. Ginebra 

SF Scottie Thompson v Bong Quinto 

I like Quinto. I like his hustle, efficiency, the same way I've grown to appreciate Rain or Shine young guns Rey Nambatac and Javee Mocon. Nothing fancy, just scoring where needed, rebounding, defending. He'll most likely hold his own versus the stat-stuffing monster known as Thompson. But it's the others-- Jeffrei Chan, Arvin Tolentino, etc. who will prove troublesome for Quinto. Chan's too crafty, Tolentino's aggressive and then there's former Bolt Jared Dillinger who is nicely rounding back to shape.

Adv. Ginebra 

PF Aljon Mariano/ Joe DeVance v Reynel Hugnatan 

Hugnatan is arguably the best low post player in this series. He's also near 40. Mariano is vastly under-rated as a low and high post operator. Then there's Joe DeVance. All 6"8 of him. Just a terrible, lopsided match-up given Hugnatan's age.

Adv. Ginebra 

C Japeth Aguilar v Cliff Hodge/ Raymond Almazan 

A few years ago, I'd bet money that Almazan and Hodge could hold their own versus Aguilar. That's not the case in the Bubble, definitely wasn't the case last season. Aguilar now looks more comfortable on the floor, knowing that Tenorio and Thompson will throw him the lob should he make the correct backdoor cut or seal. Watch film. Tenorio almost, always throws it to Aguilar in the box with all that's left for Aguilar to do is to simply lay it in. Almazan's too skinny, Hodge is too unpolished/ undisciplined. They'll give Aguilar some challenges, but not enough to really shut the 6"9 giant down.

Adv. Ginebra

Bench adv.: Ginebra

Jeffrei Chan. Arguably one of the craftiest scorers I've ever seen--not to mention his clutch 3 point shooting. Then there are the two other lefties: DeVance and Dillinger. Then there's Mark Caguioa, who, even at this age, even in limited minutes, knows how to Tito his way to scoring around the rim.

X-factor: Allein Maliksi

Mr. Play Me or Trade Me; the Bolts will need Maliksi's shooting to help open up the Ginebra defense. He's been largely inconsistent, but if he can hit his 3s, Newsome and Amer will get some space to drive and create scoring situations for themselves. But that's a big IF for the seemingly one-dimensional Maliksi (he used to be a competent defender, not sure if its age or injuries that has limited him from being the old Barako Bull rising star we saw years ago).

Prediction: Ginebra

Going to be a tough task for Meralco. Ginebra's playing well, they can score big, they can go grit-and-grind.