BARANGAY Ginebra is smelling blood, and it's on NorthPort to respond or it could be a 3-0 series for the Gin Kings by Sunday.
It's a pivotal Sunday match with the Kings having a shot at breaking the series wide open and the Batang Pier at stopping their bleeding and getting into the fight at 1-2.
The pressure of course is heavy on coach Bonnie Tan's troops who have blown away all good vibes from their elimination-round top finish on their struggles and eventual downfalls in the first two games of the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals.
The two sides resume their showdown with Game Three back at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
So far, the Batang Pier were into the fight only in the first half of the semis kickoff.
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The Kings have been in complete control from their explosive final half leading to a 115-93 triumph Wednesday followed by a bigger blowout win Friday, 119-96.
And coach Tim Cone's wards are determined to pounce on their prey while adhering to team rules, most of all the game disciplines that they have embraced and have been executing.
"Our guys did a real good job staying disciplined," said Cone after they thundered to the 2-0 lead.
Standing out as the most disciplined player so far is Stephen Holt with his important defensive effort at Arvin Tolentino, throwing NorthPort's game off balance, in the process.
"Arvin is the best player in the league and he's playing in my mind, the best defensive player in the league in Stephen Holt. So it's a real interesting battle between those two," said Cone.
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"Right now we're doing a really good job on him (Tolentino), but it's a seven-game series and we just have to continue doing it," Cone was quick to add.
Tolentino is the Best Player of the Conference top contender but he's lost his spunk and fire in the semis, contained by the lockdown defense by Holt.
From being the scoring champ in the elims, Tolentino is down to an average of 10 points in the semis. He's got that norm on a woeful 7-of-28 clip.
Ginebra's defensive ploy has been working well that they have also reduced the numbers of Kadeem Jack and Johua Munzon.
But Cone is anticipating NorthPort eventually regaining its rhythm. And Cone said his team has to be ready for that.
But can Tan and his deputies can press the right buttons?
It's been all Ginebra series thus far.(SB)
