ThERE is no denying that home court has its advantages. Most especially if Ginebra fans are the ones pushing you to win.
They sure came through Sunday night at the MOA Arena for a pivotal game 5 as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel beat the Bay City Dragons to take a commanding 3-2 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s cup.
So far it’s been an exciting series with both teams exchanging blows like a prize fight. With one trying to outdo each other each game. The first two matches were both blowouts but each were on the receiving end of a major beatdown.
While games three and four were a lot closer, they both did it via amazing comebacks this time and some late heroics. This has been a through and through see-saw battle between the top contenders.
Kings need one more win
Game five could be a decider with the Gin Kings now a game away from the championship. The Kings came out with guns blazing in the first quarter racing to a 16-4 lead in the first five minutes of play.
The Dragons kept it close with a barrage of three-pointers with two minutes left in the quarter, trailing just two points 18-20 after a Hayden Blankley long distance shot. They ended up climbing back and leading by one after the quarter.
As you would expect, the Gin Kings refuse to be outdone as they come in the second quarter with a three-point flourish of their own. Best import candidate, Justin Brownlee went hot, scoring 10 points in the quarter helping the Kings take a 54-43 lead in the half.
Cruising for the win
It was just smooth sailing after halftime as Christian Standhardinger made an impression, scoring some crucial baskets to help Brownlee increase the lead to 14 points at the end of the third quarter 76-62.
The Dragons came roaring back though as they were able to cut the Kings’ lead to five with two minutes left in the final quarter before Stanley Pringle hit a three-pointer to douse cold water on the fiery attempted come back.
Bay Area star Myles Powell was already out in the lead up to the play-offs and the recent injury to top scorer Andrew Nicholson were just perhaps way too much for the rest of the team to pick up the slack.
The Dragons were led by Hayden Blankley’s 29 points while Barangay Ginebra had a huge game from super import Justin Brownlee with 37 points and 8 rebounds.
We might see a coronation in game six should the Gin Kings hold off another fight back from the Dragons which will not come as a surprise if they do after the emotional roller coaster this series has become.
The series resumes this Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and I’m sure the fans will be rockin’.
