BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel goes for the kill as the crowd favorites try to repeat over defending champion San Miguel Beer in Game Six of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven Finals series today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
For the first time in the titular showdown, the match went to a tight finish with the Gin Kings posting an 87-83 victory last Sunday for a 3-2 series lead.
Ginebra Coach Tim Cone is gunning for his third title in three years in the game set at 7 p.m.
“The war is still out there, so this [Game Five win] was an important one. We’ll certainly go for it today,” Cone said.
Known as a role player, Scottie Thompson outplayed even himself in Game Five. He scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and tallied three assists.
The former University of Perpetual Help star nailed crucial baskets in the waning seconds as the game went toe-to-toe for the first time in the series.
The first four games were won in lopsided fashion with both teams posting average margins of 32.75 points highlighted by the 38-point rout by the Beermen in Game Three.
Chris Ross did a fantastic job holding his ground against Ginebra import Justin Brownlee—who could only score 18 points on 8-of-21 shooting.
With Brownlee’s guns silent, Thompson teamed up with LA Tenorio and Greg Slaughter to deliver the goods for the Gin Kings.
Tenorio listed 15 points and five assists, while Slaughter, the other half of the twin-tower duo for Barangay Ginebra, added 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Cone praised his prized guard Thompson for stepping on the gas when the team badly needed baskets. He likened his player to Russell Westbrook.
“Scottie had a great [everything] game. Unbelievable. He reminds me of the Thunder guy, Westbrook,” Cone said.
The Gin Kings also survived the offensive power of the Beermen, who drew a monstrous game from Renaldo Balkman and June Mar Fajardo.
Balkman had 34 points and 20 points, while the four-time Most Valuable Player added 23 points and 11 rebounds.
San Miguel Beer Head Coach Leo Austria, who has a perfect record in the Finals, remains confident that they can tie the series and go for a do-or-die Game Seven.
“We’re not yet out and this is a championship series. It’s a matter of how to win in the next game,” he said.