In just a snap, it went away
After a league-best seven-game winning streak, the formidable Barangay Ginebra San Miguel were heavily projected to secure one of the Top Four spots in the 2017 Governor’s Cup playoffs, which includes a coveted twice-to-beat advantage.
The Barangay now sport an 8-3 card in the standings. But what made their chances of securing the playoff incentive more uncertain is that all their losses have come from potential Top 4 teams — TNT, the Meralco Bolts, and the San Miguel Beermen.
Their only chance of staying in the Top Four is if the Star Hotshots (6-4) will be able to win versus the NLEX Road Warriors (7-3) on Sunday, September 24. But if that doesn’t happen, the Gin Kings might even slide down to as deep as the fifth spot.
And if they do slide to number five, the twice-to-beat edge, sadly, will slip away from their hands.
“Now the top four is not in our control,” lamented main point guard LA Tenorio, who is averaging 15.8 points and 4.4 assists this conference, of their status.
“Sayang. Yun nga yung sinasabi ni coach Tim [Cone], na parang pinahirapan pa namin yung chances namin.”
The conference playoffs will commence early next week. The Barangay’s past few games did not help them build any rhythn, since they have lost two of their last three assignments.
And with that, the 33-year-old hopes that the Gin Kings can regain their form in time for the quarterfinals.
“The playoffs will start next week and we really have to find ways and we have to get back to basics and find ways na maibalik yung laro namin as a team,” said the two-time champion.
“We cannot play like this in the playoffs.”
