Ginebra coach Tim Cone needs to dig deep and find another way to prevail over San Miguel and regain the lead in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals.
With the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals deadlocked at two games apiece, Barangay Ginebra looks to move one step closer to a third straight Finals appearance when it battles San Miguel in Game 5 on Friday, July 4.
The match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[RELATED STORY: Injured SMB ace June Mar Fajardo still too much for Ginebra in Game 4 of PBA semis]
The Gin Kings, coming off a lopsided 82-107 loss in Game 4, are eager to bounce back and reclaim the series lead.
But standing in their way is a San Miguel team that rediscovered its championship form—thanks in large part to the surprising effectiveness of a hobbled June Mar Fajardo, who dropped 12 points, 19 rebounds, three assists, and two steals despite still nursing a right calf injury.
While Fajardo remains a walking mismatch even on one good leg, Ginebra coach Tim Cone will look to counter with his battle-tested core of Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, and Stephen Holt, along with key contributors like Troy Rosario and Jamie Malonzo.
Ginebra’s ability to respond to adversity has been a hallmark of its recent runs, and Game 5 presents another gut-check moment.
With a chance to inch within one win of the Finals, the Gin Kings know they’ll need to match San Miguel’s physicality—and lean on their depth—to stay on track for another title shot.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]