Coach Gallent Prepares for Tougher Games as San Miguel Season Begins | PBA Semifinals Governors' Cup 2023
In the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup, the San Miguel Beermen aim to clinch the title. Still, their coach Jorge Gallent acknowledges that the road ahead will not be easy. With playoffs in full swing, Gallent said they expect a tough time in the semifinals, especially against their old nemesis, the Barangay Ginebra.
The Gin Kings, who have won three straight titles in the tournament, have more to fight for. They are looking to win their fourth consecutive title, which will serve as a tribute to their skipper LA Tenorio, who is currently fighting colon cancer.
Ginebra defeated San Miguel Beer, 3-2, the last time they met in the semis during the 2016 Governors’ Cup, and the same result is expected this time, with the Beermen having to make do without their injured prized center, June Mar Fajardo.
However, the Beermen have been performing well even without Fajardo. They have managed to string up three straight wins, including a dominant 121-105 victory over Converge in their quarterfinal pairing. The fine performances of their import, Cameron Clark and CJ Perez, have been instrumental in their success.
Coach Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra acknowledges that San Miguel Beer is the best team in the league right now. They share the ball well and play defense differently from Ginebra. They lead the league in security and have proven in their past three games that they can play at a high level without Fajardo. According to Cone, San Miguel’s import, Cameron Clark and CJ Perez, have been the key players in their recent success, and they have a lot of weapons in their arsenal.
Despite San Miguel’s success, Cone is confident that his team has what it takes to win. He has his weapons, led by Christian Standhardinger, Justin Brownlee, and Jamie Malonzo, and a slew of defensive schemes that should make life tough for the Beermen. Cone believes that this will be a challenging series, even without Fajardo, and both teams are expected to put up a good fight.
