PBA: How Barangay Ginebra overcame the Bay Area Dragons challenge

The Finals Series billed as a battle for national pride ended with Barangay Ginebra crushing Bay Area in front of 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena for what could be the best PBA championship ever.

But amid the revelry to take the seventh title in 15 championships, there are still questions about how the Gin Kings did it and how useful it is to beat a team as formidable as the Hong Kong-based Dragons.

IS THIS JUSTIN BROWNLEE’S GREATEST FINALS PERFORMANCE?

Brownlee made it six for six on the PBA’s grandest stage, establishing his status as one of the greatest imports in history after almost-literally carrying Ginebra on his broad shoulders.

34 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists and three blocks in a decisive seventh game may have answered that question as the three-time Best Import heated up from the start and set up a night to remember for the Gin Kings and their fans.

For the Finals, the newly naturalized Filipino averaged 32.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.0 blocks. It is quite remarkable for someone who can still send Ginebra to another championship in the upcoming conference.

WHY WAS CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER NAMED FINALS MVP?

Brownlee will be a cinch for the MVP series had the rules allowed foreigners to claim the award. That being said, the majority of fans seemed happy with Standhardinger’s selection by the PBA Press Corps as the plaque picker during the awards ceremony.

If only the numbers are based on selection, Standhardinger’s 10.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals in seven games will be inferior to the production of another candidate in Scottie Thompson, who put up 12.6 points, 7, 0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.9 assists.

But experts take into consideration the way Standhardinger is implemented behind the defense, especially before the Dragons imported Andrew Nicholson down with an ankle injury, and the basket is timely even if he is not the first or second choice in the offense.

HOW IMPORTANT WILL JAMIE MALONZO BE IN GAME 7?

Malonzo’s energy in the decider was one of the main reasons for Gin King’s victory, a timely necessity after the two-time forward struggled in the previous six games.

He finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds in a performance that resembled his conference debut while Malonzo proved to be a key acquisition from NorthPort.

Did the BAY area leave a lasting impression?

Losing coach Brian Goorjian said the Dragons learned a lot from the experience of playing all 12 teams and getting a feel for how Finals basketball in the Philippines will be.

But Filipino fans may have learned a thing or two from the Bay Area, especially from how coach Brian Goorjian boasts of the tactical methods that made him a legendary figure on the international stage.

The Dragons could progress as the conference reaches the business end of the campaign, with Hayden Blankley, Glen Yang, Kobey Lam, Liu Chuanxing becoming names that are now known to the world.

WHAT IS GENEVA?

While beating Bay Area, Ginebra may be a team to be reckoned with and could add more champions to the trophy room in the next few years thanks to Cone’s depth for the long term.

But it also depends on how San Miguel Beer responds after exiting the semifinals, how Magnolia can get over the hump after a string of semifinal losses, how TNT recovers from a dismal campaign and if any of the remaining teams in the league can make more. from a three-team or four-team competition for the ultimate prize.

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