Another championship showdown against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Miguel Gin Kings should be an interesting and competitive series for the Meralco Bolts.
Bolts’ coach Norman Black thinks so, heading into Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup best-of-seven finals series at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts have not beaten the Gin Kings in the three championship series that they have met in the past, but the long rest that the Bolts gained from beating the Magnolia Hotshots in the semifinals, should give them enough time to get ready.
“We have more than enough time to prepare, more than enough time to get some rest. It should be interesting,” said Black.
Statistically, the Gin Kings have an edge over the Bolts with the scoring leadership that Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson provide, with the import averaging 33.2 points to emerge as this conference’s most productive cager.
Tenorio ranked fifth after norming 14.5 points, with Thompson in 10th (13.25).
Bolts Chris Banchero, who has been sidelined by a back injury, has helped a lot with Chris Newsome, with their averages of 14 points in sixth and seventh spots, respectively.
The Gin Kings have three good rebounders in Christian Standhardinger, ranked second with 12.5 and with Brownlee in fifth (11.75), and with Thompson in sixth (8.5).
Bishop is Meralco’s top rebounder with his average of 12 per game, with Cliff Hodge helping out with 4.8 boards.
The Bolts finalized their entry into the finals after their 94-81 win over the Magnolia Hotshots in Game 5 of the semifinals last Friday.