One last game: Ginebra, San Mig clash tonight for finals trip

Levi Verora

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

With the series knotted at 3-3, Barangay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee face off in game 7 with a trip to the Philippine Cup finals against Rain or Shine in the balance

 VINTAGE SPARK. Mark Caguioa scored 21 points in Game 6. Can he duplicate that effort in Game 7? Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines – Who will advance to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals?

After 6 grueling meetings, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Mig Super Coffee Mixers slug it out for one last time this conference with a championship appearance at stake.

Game time is 8:00 pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

GAME 6: Ginebra 94, San Mig 91

What went right for Ginebra: Ginebra’s veterans came to life in Game 6, with Mark Caguioa leading 4 Kings in double-figures with his 21 points on 60% shooting. LA Tenorio added 16 points while Greg Slaughter hit a big basket late in the game as part of his 20-point, 11-rebound production.

What went wrong for San Mig: James Yap was slapped with a crucial reach-in foul in the dying seconds of the match which turned into two free throws for Caguioa that gave Ginebra a one-point edge. Marc Pingris appeared to be on his way to another colossal night with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in 41 minutes but failed to draw support from other bigs. Joe Devance was visibly missing, scoring just 3 points.

Keys to Victory

Ginebra: Coach Ato Agustin’s boys outrebounded the Mixers, 45-38 on Game 6. They must continue dominate the boards to control the match. Production from veterans like Caguioa, Tenorio, and Helterbrand will also be a huge help if they want to advance to the final round.

San Mig: Coach Tim Cone’s wards shot a decent 47.5% from the field but were just 11 of 19 from the free throw line. Pingris was also the lone spark for most of the second half; the Mixers had their chances in the end but Ginebra’s defense limited San Mig’s looks. 

X-Factors

Ginebra: Mac Baracael

Ginebra’s outside sniper was on target in Game 6, knocking down 3 of 4 triples. His crosshair must remain on the basket if the Kings want to succeed tonight.

San Mig: Ian Sangalang, Joe Devance

The no. 2 overall pick Sangalang scored 12 points in just 20 minutes of play, a key reason for San Mig’s first half cushion. Devance meanwhile must be more productive on the offensive end to boost the Mixers’ hopes.

What this game means: It’s do or die now for both squads. Ginebra is still chasing for their first championship in over half a decade now and this the stepping stone towards achieving that. San Mig has gone a long way despite a 1-5 start and this is their golden chance to barge into the finals. Expect a war between both teams in the Manila Clasico semis finale.  Rappler.com

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