Ginebra looked pumped right off the bat.
Everyone knows the opening game of a finals series is crucial in more ways than one.
That’s why Barangay Ginebra San Miguel made sure they were coming into Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals against TNT Tropang Giga with the proper mindset.
“We know coming into this game TNT is a tough team, but mindset namin, crucial na makakuha ng unang panalo,” Thompson said in the aftermath of Ginebra’s 102-90 win in the series opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Yung Game 1 sobrang crucial sa ’min kasi kahit papano may lead kami. Hindi assurance na maipapanalo yung series, pero sobrang importante kaya throughout the game aggressive kami.”
He’s not wrong.
History shows winning the opener sets the tone for the rest of the series. According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, 67% (61 of 91) of the teams that won Game 1 of a best-of-seven series eventually won the title.
In fact, in the five times Ginebra bagged the curtain raiser, it went on to win the title.
And in Sunday’s crucial win, Thompson looked the most hell-bent on doing so after recording his 8th career triple double and fifth in the playoffs. He finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
But he deflected credit to the rest of the team.
“Honestly, talagang all out lang kami this Game 1. Aggressive lang,” he said.
Ginebra will need to flash that same aggressiveness next game, as TNT will look to rebound from their series-opening loss.
Game 2 is on Wednesday at the same venue.