Old rivals Barangay Ginebra and Meralco are at it again. They just clash in an earlier phase of the playoffs this time.
Title protagonists in the PBA Governors Cup in the past two seasons, the Gin Kings and the Bolts face off in a best-of-three quarterfinal showdown at the Commissioner's Cup with the opener set at 7 p.m. Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game 2 - July 11 4:30PM
Game 3 - July 13 7PM *
*if necessary
The Kings reigned in each of their two championship duels with Justin Brownlee up against Allen Durham.
Arinze Onuaku, a huge, hulking version of Durham, now stands in Ginebra's way.
"We're familiar foes. We've battle each other a lot in the playoffs over recent years, and every series has been close and tight with incredible moments," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
"Meralco is always especially good when they have a dominant inside import, and Onuaku is definitely that. Our ability to defend the paint will be crucial," Cone also said.
Onuaku delivered 24 points and 23 rebounds in a double-double game complemented well by Chris Newsome, Jared Dillinger and Anjo Caram as the Bolts topped the Kings, 93-82, in their elims tiff on June 1.
With the starting unit of Onuaku, Dillinger, Newsome, Caram and Cliff Hodge, the Bolts took the opening quarter at 28-22 and held sway all throughout, negating Brownlee's triple-double outing with 20 markers, 16 boards and 12 assists.
After the loss to Meralco, Brownlee and his teammates suffered another defeat then went on a murderous run of five straight wins going into the playoffs.
And they're determined to get going.
"We'll not be satisfied and we'll continue to focus on getting better," said Brownlee, easily the biggest key in their rally from their woeful start in the mid-season tourney.
"We'll stay aggressive and, hopefully, we keep going. We'll continue to come out and play," Brownlee also said.
But again, Onuaku stands in Ginebra's way. (SB)
Title protagonists in the PBA Governors Cup in the past two seasons, the Gin Kings and the Bolts face off in a best-of-three quarterfinal showdown at the Commissioner's Cup with the opener set at 7 p.m. Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game 2 - July 11 4:30PM
Game 3 - July 13 7PM *
*if necessary
The Kings reigned in each of their two championship duels with Justin Brownlee up against Allen Durham.
Arinze Onuaku, a huge, hulking version of Durham, now stands in Ginebra's way.
"We're familiar foes. We've battle each other a lot in the playoffs over recent years, and every series has been close and tight with incredible moments," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
"Meralco is always especially good when they have a dominant inside import, and Onuaku is definitely that. Our ability to defend the paint will be crucial," Cone also said.
Onuaku delivered 24 points and 23 rebounds in a double-double game complemented well by Chris Newsome, Jared Dillinger and Anjo Caram as the Bolts topped the Kings, 93-82, in their elims tiff on June 1.
With the starting unit of Onuaku, Dillinger, Newsome, Caram and Cliff Hodge, the Bolts took the opening quarter at 28-22 and held sway all throughout, negating Brownlee's triple-double outing with 20 markers, 16 boards and 12 assists.
After the loss to Meralco, Brownlee and his teammates suffered another defeat then went on a murderous run of five straight wins going into the playoffs.
And they're determined to get going.
"We'll not be satisfied and we'll continue to focus on getting better," said Brownlee, easily the biggest key in their rally from their woeful start in the mid-season tourney.
"We'll stay aggressive and, hopefully, we keep going. We'll continue to come out and play," Brownlee also said.
But again, Onuaku stands in Ginebra's way. (SB)
