BARANGAY Ginebra is moving on from another title playoff setback while San Miguel Beer is out to rise from a bad flunk where it missed the post-elims play for the first time in a long, long while.
And that's the backdrop as the Gin Kings and the Beermen slug it out Friday in what's expected to be another highly competitive and entertaining clash between the two mighty squads.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with coach Tim Cone's troops seeking a follow-up to their triumphant Philippine Cup debut against Terrafirma on Wednesday while coach Leo Austria's crew look to rebound from a sad endgame foldup versus Magnolia a week ago.
Like in their previous matches, it will be San Miguel's high-powered offense versus Ginebra's more disciplined, defense-first approach - the outcome likely depending on which team can impose its style and adapt to the other's strengths.
Going with the Kings is the momentum of a 101-80 rout of the Terrafirma Dyip to start their redemption drive after once again coming up short in a title duel with the TNT Tropang Giga.
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"Our guys are really good at moving forward and moving on. We don't look back. We are motivated because it's an all-Filipino and we want to get off and get our feet wet and try to get a win under our belts," said Cone.
Japeth Aguilar churned out a 30-point sizzler while Scottie Thompson dropped an 11-14-7 (points-rebounds-assists) bomb to lead the Kings to a good warmup job ahead of their face-off with June Mar Fajardo and Co.
The Beermen also got off well from the opening gate, stringing up back-to-back wins versus NLEX (98-89) and Meralco (110-98) before a meltdown opposite Magnolia (95-98).
From those games, the Kings and the Beermen are expected to give each other a good test - in a matchup of two teams that clashed in Season 49 Governors Cup semis.
Ginebra disposed of San Miguel, 4-2, in a best-of-seven series then.
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For the Beermen, coming next was a tough struggle resulting in missing the playoff bus in the Commissioner's Cup.
Thus, they're driven by a deep desire to perform well in this tourney.(SB)
