San Miguel def Brgy. Ginebra, 131-121 [PBA S49 Govs’ Cup SF Game 4 | Oct. 16, 2024]

Brgy. Ginebra coach Tim Cone is known for his candid insights on life in general and sports in particular, never shying away from sharing his perspective.

San Miguel should take heed of Cone’s wisdom as the Beermen and Kings gear up for their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals clash on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A hard-fought 99-94 victory last Sunday at the Dasmarinas City Arena has given Ginebra a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series. Another win would propel the crowd favorites to the brink of a finals return, reminiscent of their triumph in the last tournament held in 2023.

Cone credited his team’s latest success to their resilience in bouncing back from a heartbreaking 125-131 overtime defeat in Game 2, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus.

The Kings’ primary objective now is to match the intensity of their rivals, the Beermen, who will undoubtedly be reenergized after a crucial two-day break.

This brief respite should allow Justin Brownlee and the Kings’ key players to recuperate, but Cone noted that it equally benefits June Mar Fajardo and the rest of the San Miguel squad.

Indeed, the relentless pressure exerted by Ginebra’s defense, anchored by Japeth Aguilar, appears to have taken a toll on Fajardo, who managed only eight shots and 12 points after an impressive 23-point, 21-rebound outing in Game 2.

While San Miguel’s import EJ Anosike has delivered consistent performances, averaging 31.3 points and 9.0 rebounds for the series, Brownlee has emerged as a standout with more comprehensive averages of 34 points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game.