PBA: B-MEG and Ginebra contest last Finals spot

For the third time this conference, the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the B-MEG Llamados will do battle. However, the next stakes have never been as high as they are now.

Ginebra and B-MEG figure in a loser-goes-home playoff for the right to advance to the Governors' Cup Finals and face-off against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.





In two meetings in the Governors' Cup, B-MEG has had Ginebra's number.

The Llamados dispatched the Kings by eight points, 96-88 when these two teams first met last May 27, and then B-MEG repeated their feat in the semifinal round, 82-70, last July 15.

In both cases the Commissioners' Cup champs have won on the strength of their defense. Ginebra is shooting just 37.74 percent from the field and 18.42 percent from three-point territory, with B-MEG registering 4.5 blocks in the process.

Making things more difficult for Ginebra is the fact that B-MEG hasn't relied on just one scorer to beat them. In the elimination round, five Llamados scored in double-figures, led by PJ Simon's 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. When they faced off again in the semifinals, they got four double-digit scorers, featuring Marc Pingris, who burned them for 24 points.  

The offense of the Llamados is so potent that they don't even need import Marqus Blakely to have big outings, as he's scored just 13 and 17 points the two times they've played each other.

Ginebra on the other hand, can at least hang their hat on the fact that they've managed to eke out more second-chance points, despite B-MEG's superior rebounding, and turnover points, taking advantage of the Llamados' less careful ball handling.

Still, the problem is their offense. The Kings' import, Cedric Bozeman, has been carrying the squad, with games of 22 and 30 points. After that, their most consistent scoring threat has been former Llamado Kerby Raymundo, who has posted a 14-point outing and a 20-point outing.

The missing element has been BGK's guards. Last conference's best local, Mark Caguioa, has produced single digits just twice, and both have come against B-MEG, including a woeful 0-for-12 outing in the semis. Players like Mike Cortez, Allein Maliksi and Dylan Ababou have similarly been no-shows as well.



Expect the playoff between these two teams to be a low-scoring affair, with the two teams at the bottom of the league's charts on offense. Both squads are more focused on defense than offense anyway, with BGK allowing the fewest points, while B-MEG forces opponents into the poorest field goal percentage.

The chink in B-MEG's armor might be their turnovers. They norm 16.64, versus the 12.71 handful of Ginebra. The Kings also shoot better from downtown and from the field in general than B-MEG, but those averages go out the window when they play the Llamados, for some reason.

As a result, the following questions emerge: Can Ginebra's defense finally solve B-MEG? Do the Llamados simply have better weapons than the Kings? And perhaps, with a possible MVP award on the line, who will step up, James Yap or Mark Caguioa?


X-Factors

Kerb-your enthusiasm

Averages in last five games	Points	FG%	Rebs	FTA	Blocks
Kerby Raymundo	13.6	53.64%	7.4	2.75	0.6

 
The one-two punch of Bozeman and Raymundo has been what has kept Ginebra alive in their games versus B-MEG, but BGK is no doubt hoping that he still has a notch or two left to elevate his game. On defense might be where Raymundo can best shine though, as he could be the key to shutting down Marc Pingris.


Be on your guard

Versus Rain or Shine (July 18)	Mins	Pts	FG%	Asts	Stls	TOs
Jonas Villanueva	19	11	50%	5	1	1
Mark Barroca	18	10	57.14%	4	1	1

 
B-MEG’s bevy of guards came close to putting the hurt on Rain or Shine, as the reserve duo of Jonas Villanueva and Mark Barroca came up big in short stints to vex the Elasto Painters. If they can pull it off again versus a stronger Ginebra backcourt, B-MEG will likely escape with this one. - GMA News