THERE'S a splash of color added in the Ginebra-Meralco face-off following the rough and tough clash in Game Two triggered by the pre-game fracas between Christian Standhardinger and Franky Johnson.
But the main thing remains whether the Gin Kings will remain the Boss in the bitter rivalry or the Bolts are now ready to put a new leaf on the story of the matchup with a fast growing stature.
It's another Ginebra-Meralco do-or-die showdown.
The Kings and the Bolts slug it out one last time in the conference at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Sunday to determine the side advancing to a PBA Philippine Cup semis waltz with tournament top seed San Miguel Beer.
With all the physicality and ruggedness of battle in the last game, the 6:30 p.m. Sunday decider isn't expected to be less physical or emotional with each side determined to push their respective bids.
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The Kings are out to make it seven in a row versus the Bolts in their playoff rivalry, with Ginebra aching for a shot at the crown they won in the 2020 Clark bubble then yielded to the TNT Tropang Giga in the Bacolor semi-bubble last year.
The Bolts, meanwhile, are simply bent on pulling one over the Kings.
Even minus coach Norman Black, Chris Newsome and his teammates moved on the brink of the semis, gaining a twice-to-beat advantage over the Kings in taking the opener of their best-of-three quarters tussle at 93-82.
But the Bolts blew a golden opportunity to wrap the series up in Game 2, with the Kings swinging back hard and winning the rugged match at 94-87.
"It was a man's game - physical, rough and tumble, blood on the floor. Meralco showed their desire by playing with physicality. We're able to match that physicality," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
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On the eve of Game 3, Newsome posted on his social media account a video of a blindside hit by Prince Caperal and tweeted: "Privilege making people brave! Beware of Fake Tough Guys everywhere!"
Obviously, the Kings did a better job controlling their emotion and keeping their poise in Game 2.
Ginebra scored more points from errors, 28-14, and had more steals, 14-7, negating the Bolts' advantage off the boards, 52-43.
"Our backs are against the wall so we gotta play through their physicality," said Ginebra center/forward Japeth Aguilar. (SB)
