Ginebra is hardly a team that will panic, but it needs to address some pressing concerns.
It is premature to say that Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is in trouble in these PBA Governors’ Cup finals against the TNT Tropang Giga. After all, the defending champs are in a familiar situation: a 2-2 series. This is what happened in the Commissioner’s Cup finals, and Ginebra ended up winning that series against the Bay Area Dragons in seven games.
While there is no need to push the panic button just yet, there is cause for concern. A big one is the uncharacteristically uneven play of Justin Brownlee, who struggled mightily in Game 2, and was plagued by foul trouble in Game 4 on his way to a very quiet second half.
A greater cause of concern is Jeremiah Gray, who has become a vital cog for Ginebra in this season-ending conference. The sweet-shooting rookie has gone ice cold in these finals, going 5-for-32 from the field through four games on an anemic 2-for-20 from beyond the arc.
Ginebra also does not have big man Japeth Aguilar back in full strength. Coupled with Gray’s struggles, Tim Cone is left with practically no choice but to shorten his already notoriously short rotation. Cone’s thoroughbreds can probably get the job done for Ginebra, but fatigue may be an issue should this series go the distance.
Last but certainly not the least, the defending champs do not have the safety blanket that is LA Tenorio, who has seemingly made it a habit of coming up big every time Ginebra is in a bind. That is not to mention the steely leadership Tinyente provides whenever the going gets tough.
Yes, the defending champions are not in trouble just yet, but they will be soon enough if they don't figure things out.
Game 5 is set on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.