ONE twice-to-beat team has safely made the Final Four via the short route. Another missed the same path and is now bracing for a Sunday do-or-die grind.
Working their butts out to secure the same advantage, the Barangay Ginebra Kings take their turn to shoot for that quick semis entry on Friday, tangling with the sixth-ranked NorthPort Batang Pier at the PhilSports Arena.
Odds are heavy on their side, but the Gin Kings are realistic they have to do their job -- and exert extra effort if needed - in order to hurdle the Batang Pier and take one key step towards their goal of defending the crown they won over the Bay Area Dragons last year.
Coach Tim Cone and his troops have set their minds that there would be no easy game in the PBA Commissioner's Cup playoffs.
And they're determined to claw, fight and battle against a NorthPort side that will always be dangerous while in pursuit of a breakthrough feat.
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The Batang Pier have never been into the semis since the 2019 Governors' Cup.
But NorthPort is practically a new recipe with its young bunch under coach Boni Tan.
Tan has a nice import in Venky Jois (with well-rounded averages of 24.5 points and 15.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.8 steals) surrounded by locals ready to put in their shares.
They have their top gun in Arvin Tolentino who averages 22.3 points a game then Joshua Munzon with his own solid numbers (12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals).
And they can also call on Paul Zamar, Cade Flores, JM Calma, Fran Yu and Brent Paraiso.
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A concern is height and heft to match up with Ginebra's Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo and Tony Bishop.
Making good use of their advantage, the Gin Kings trumped the Batang Pier, 103-93, in their elims face-off on Jan. 7.
From that game, the Gin Kings rolled to a 103-99 decision versus the NLEX Road Warriors six nights later to find a spot in the Top 4 with its twice-to-beat bonus.
And the Kings definitely want to reap the fruits of that incentive. (SB)
