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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Let the race to the 2016 Oppo PBA Governor’s Cup crown begin.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and Meralco Bolts are facing off in Game 1 of the best-of-seven finals today at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Game time is 7 p.m.
Kings will aim to end an eight-year PBA championship drought, while Bolts will chase for its first-ever PBA crown since entering the league in 2010.
Ginebra reached the championship round by dethroning San Miguel Beermen, 3-2, while Bolts scored a huge upset over top seed TNT Katropa, 3-1, to secure the PBA finals slot.
Bolts may be entering the PBA finals for the first time, but it does not mean it will be a favored team in the series, Kings head coach Tim Cone said.
“They’re not first-timers. You have Norman (Black) out there who is a veteran coach,” said Cone. “It’s the leadership out there that is important. I don’t think the Bolts are newbies.”
“Meralco dominated TNT and beat them for three straight games. I think they are the more experienced team, not us,” added Cone, who will be coaching in his 30th PBA finals and looking for his 19th title.
Bolts head coach Black is glad for the achievement of his team after their lackluster performance in the Philippine Cup but said they won’t stop until the team gets its first-ever PBA trophy.
“We’ve really come a long way since the first conference (Philippine Cup) where we finished 1-10,” he said. “We’re happy to finish the conference on a high note, but it’s not over yet.”
“We will definitely go for the championship,” declared Black, who wants to become the first mentor to win championships in four different teams. He previously led Beermen, Sta. Lucia Realtors and Katropa to PBA victories.
Leading the way for Kings are Best Import of the Conference frontrunner Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Solomon Mercado, and rookie Earl Scottie Thompson.
Reinforcement Allen Durham, Reynel Hugnatan, Clifford Hodge, Jimmy Alapag, and Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Newsome will banner Bolts.
Both teams will miss some key players in the championship series. Kings will play without Gregory Slaughter and Chris Ellis. Jared Dillinger, on the other hand, remains doubtful for Bolts side./PN
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