Ginebra, Rain or Shine: Pray for luck, play to survive

February 05, 2010

MICO HALILI, GMANews.TV

To say that a playoff game is just like any game is like saying the Aston Martin is just a car. Hence, it takes more effort to win one game in a playoff series than it does to win a regular contest. For Ginebra and Rain or Shine, the difference increases tenfold. When a team is down 2-1 in a best-of-five series, it’ll need a great game plan, talented players and a whole lot of luck just to survive.

Last Wednesday, Ginebra was lucky that Mac Cardona didn’t explode for 30+ points or that Ren-Ren Ritualo failed to convert a wide-open three pointer that could’ve tied the game with seconds to go. JC Intal was even luckier to have Eric Menk as a teammate. Intal is like the hotshot pitcher with a rifle for an arm. Intal can strikeout opponents with ease. But when the game’s on the line, two outs, bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, Intal’s fastball isn’t as sure as his slam dunk. Eventually, he will learn to close-out games. If not for Menk’s free-throw conversions late in the game, The Rocket’s career-best 25 points in Game 3 would’ve been dwarfed by Intal’s two missed free-throws and a near-catastrophic mid-court turn-over.

Rain or Shine, meantime, was lucky that Purefoods kept Kerby Raymundo and Rico Maierhofer in cold storage because of injuries. Sol Mercado was even luckier to have Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood by his side. Mercado, how has been playing like a bazooka on wheels in the playoffs, flaunted frustration as his focus faded in the fourth quarter of Game 3. If Chan didn’t make four three-pointers in the fourth quarter and Norwood didn’t seal Purefoods’ fate with a spectacular put-back slam, the spotlight would’ve been directed at Mercado’s shortcomings.

---

When a team is down 2-1 in a best-of-five series, it’ll need a great game plan, talented players and a whole lot of luck just to survive.

---

Here’s what we know so far. Intal is a hotshot. Mercado is a hothead. While their talent is undeniable, their weaknesses are just as noticeable. Nobody demands, though, that they win the series on their own especially since their teams are playing on the brink. As upstarts, they’re expected to shine and skid often at the same time. They’re both good and lucky. They’re so good they lead their teams in scoring. They’re lucky because they have one more chance to prove that they are PBA stars who can win games from start to finish.

It’s hard to imagine Talk 'N Text’s Jason Castro committing another late-game traveling violation or Ritualo missing another wide-open three-pointer in Game 4. I don’t know if Ginebra’s that lucky. Everyone also expects Raymundo and Maierhofer to play on Friday. If they don’t maybe Rain or Shine is that fortunate. One more smile from the basketball gods is all they ask. No PBA team, however, has rebounded from a 0-2 hole in a best-of-five series since 1993. None. Zilch. Zero. Therefore, only two words can summarize the plight of two players praying for one more display of talent and two teams hoping for one more night of good fortune. Good luck. - GMANews.TV