Hold onto your Ginebra San Miguel polos, folks, because the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals just got a whole lot more interesting. Barangay Ginebra, the league's most popular team, is in a dogfight with the Meralco Bolts, and the cracks are starting to show. This ain't your typical crowd-pleasing Ginebra offense we're witnessing. This is a one-man show, starring the indomitable Christian Standhardinger.
Standhardinger went nuclear in Game 2, erupting for a career-high 41 points. He was practically unguardable, draining shots at will. The problem? Literally everyone else on Ginebra forgot how to score. Maverick Ahanmisi, a walking bucket most nights, has been a ghost on the court, sporting a plus/minus of minus-27 through two games. Scottie Thompson, the high-flying defensive menace, has been MIA offensively, mustering a measly 11 points total.
Tim Cone, the ever-so-patient Ginebra coach, is starting to sweat. He knows a one-man band doesn't win championships. Meralco's game plan was simple: shut down everyone else and let Standhardinger have his fun. It almost worked. Thankfully for Ginebra, Standhardinger went on a heater, but it wasn't enough.
The supporting cast, the role players who usually step up in big moments, have been invisible. Young gun Ralph Cu, who exploded for 18 points in Game 1, was neutralized. The rest of the starters haven't exactly been lighting the scoreboard on fire.
Can Cone find a way to get his role players involved? Will Ahanmisi rediscover his scoring touch? Can Ginebra adjust their offense to avoid the Standhardinger-centric approach that Meralco is feasting on? These are the questions that will determine the fate of Ginebra's championship aspirations.
One thing's for sure: if Ginebra wants to win this series, they'll need a collective effort. Standhardinger can't do it all alone. The Barangay needs to find their supporting cast, and fast. The PBA faithful are waiting with bated breath to see if Ginebra can respond, or if the Meralco upset becomes a reality.
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