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San Miguel, Ginebra, Meralco and TNT begin their 2023 PBA Governors Cup semifinal series on Friday. – PBA PICTURE FILE PHOTO
The semifinals of the PBA Governor’s Cup will feature a pair of matchup teams under the same umbrella that ensures another corporate battle between San Miguel Corporation and MVP Group for the championship.
There is intrigue in how things will play out between Barangay Ginebra, defending two-time conference winners last season, and this season’s Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer on one side and top seed TNT against Meralco on the other side of the fence. .
KEEP SAN MIGUEL AND GENEVA THE LAST SEMIS
San Miguel won against Ginebra during the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup, needing only five games to take the best-of-seven.
The two teams played in the semifinals of the 2016 Governor’s Cup, with Ginebra having to go through five full games to beat San Miguel and eventually beat Meralco for the title.
Ginebra also defeated San Miguel in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Governor’s Cup in the last playoff match between the two squads.
STAY FOR THE LAST TNT AND MERALCO SEMIS
Meralco defeated TNT in the decisive fifth game of the semis series to reach the 2019 PBA Governor’s Cup Final. The Bolts then lost to the Gin Kings for the championship with a 4-1 decision.
SAN MIGUEL AND GINEBRA road to SEMIS
San Miguel finished second in the playoffs with a 9-2 record before defeating seventh-seeded Converge in the quarterfinals.
Ginebra became the third seed to enter the playoffs after squandering a chance to lead the playoffs with a loss to TNT. The Gin Kings defeated the sixth-ranked NLEX Road Warriors in the quarters to make the all-SMC semis.
TNT AND MERALCO ROAD TO SEMIS
TNT won 10 of 11 games in the eliminations to claim the league’s best record, then made short work of Phoenix in the quarters.
Meralco placed fourth and gained a two-point advantage after defeating Magnolia and NLEX, who had the same 7-4 record, by point difference. An overtime win at No. 5 Magnolia puts Meralco in the running.
KEY TO BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE AWARD WIN
Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger. PBA PICTURES
Ginebra Christian Standhardinger and San Miguel CJ Perez 1-2 in the BPC race at the end of the elims, and the series can determine which two will end up with one of the most coveted awards in the league.
Standhardinger led the BPC derby with 42.8 Statistical Points as he filled the void left by the injured Japeth Aguilar while Perez was second with 39.3 behind a typically quiet but effective showing for San Miguel.
The likelihood of the team winning the series will be a factor in the decision of who is eligible to vote, both the media and the players.
A BATTLE OF CONTRASTING STYLES
Offense against defense was the theme of the all-MVP showdown as TNT led the league in scoring in the semifinals with 118.5 points. Tropang Giga reached the century mark in 11 of the 12 games of this conference.
Meralco, on the other hand, allowed the fewest points in the conference with an average of 100.4. Allowed 100 points in five of the 12 games of this conference.
GOVERNOR’S CUP ELECTION MEETING
TNT imported Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. – PBA PICTURES
The Beermen won 102-99 last February 17 with 35 points and 10 rebounds from import Cameron Clark, plus contributions from Perez, Vic Manuel and June Mar Fajardo, who did not play in the series due to an MCL injury.
TNT beat Meralco, 111-104, also on February 17 in the prelims with import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson posting 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and Mikey Williams adding 25 points.
IMPLICATIONS OF SEMIS ALL-SMC, ALL-MVP?
The two semis earned the seventh PBA Finals meeting between San Miguel Corporation and MVP Group in the last eight conferences.
The SMC and MVP teams have met for six straight conferences since 2019 before that streak was broken in this season’s Commissioner’s Cup when Ginebra beat the visiting Bay Area team in the Finals.
San Miguel Beer beat TNT in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup and the 2022 Philippine Cup while Ginebra beat Meralco in the 2019 and 2022 Governor’s Cup and TNT in the 2020 Philippine Cup.
TNT gave the MVP conglomerate the lone victory in the 2021 Philippine Cup by defeating Magnolia.
PBA SEMIFINALS GAMES SCHEDULE
WATCH: Here’s the schedule for the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals, which begin Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/orDxyPr7iM
– INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 22, 2023
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