(c) PBA Media Bureau
Like it or not, the Meralco-Ginebra rivalry is brewing. Although it is one-sided so far, the animosity and dislike are real!
Meralco is a better team in the elimination round. Can they carry that to this quarterfinals match-up?
X-FACTORS
Justin Brownlee
Free-throw Shooting
3rd Quarter
Even though Ginebra grabbed a wing import in Justin Brownlee, they are still a much bigger team than Meralco. Brownlee will face either Jared Dillinger or Cliff Hodge on the offensive end and he has all the advantage from size, strength and speed.
The biggest weakness of Meralco is their free-throw shooting. They are only hitting 59% of their freebies which is laughable. In the playoffs, there is no way they are reaching the Finals with that efficiency.
The 3rd quarter is vital. That is the quarter wherein both coaches make their key adjustments and the thousands of Ginebra supporter will become wilder at this point. Whoever wins the 3rd quarter in a good margin will have a good chance of winning the game.
PREDICTION
Coach Norman will need to come up with a good gameplan in slowing down Brownlee. The import of Ginebra was unstoppable in their elimination round match-up with 20 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists.
With more hunger, Meralco should shoot better from the free-throw line.
I expect it to boil down to the 3rd quarter. One thing that I anticipate is a good magic "bunot" by coach Norman in this deciding quarter. Which will be the difference in winning this game for the Bolts.
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