4 burning questions ahead of PBA Governors’ Cup finals Game 2

Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals went to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, who rode on a strong first half to frustrate the TNT Tropang Giga the rest of the way. On Wednesday, the defending champs will shoot for a 2-0 lead and complete control of this championship series—but not if the Tropang Giga can help it.

Putting it simply, Game 2 is critical, and the answers to the following questions will likely decide if Ginebra will take a commanding lead in this series or if TNT will tie it at one game apiece.

Can Ginebra impose its will early again?

In two games against TNT this conference, Ginebra had two strong starts—and if not for an uncharacteristic fourth quarter collapse, the defending champs would have won both games. A third consecutive strong start over the same TNT team could work wonders for Ginebra’s confidence, and maybe put some doubt into the Tropang Giga.

Can Tropang Giga keep their composure?

TNT seemed to unravel in the fourth canto in Game 1, and big man Poy Erram typified the collapse, committing back-to-back fouls at one point—including his now infamous “kurot” on Ginebra counterpart Christian Standhardinger. Even import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was seen fuming down the stretch after getting subbed out with a little under two minutes left. The Tropang Giga simply cannot afford to lose their cool, not against this disciplined, well-oiled machine that is Ginebra.  

Will Pogoy bounce back?

RR Pogoy was MIA in Game 1, scoring only 6 points total—or 13 markers off his conference average of 19. Maybe guarding Justin Brownlee for stretches in the first half took a lot out of the Gilas mainstay, or maybe it was the defense of Ginebra’s Jeremiah Gray. Whatever it is, Pogoy will need to figure things out fast or TNT would be in an 0-2 hole after Game 2.

Will Brownlee start off aggressive?

Speaking of Brownlee, he set the tone of Game 1 with a 17-point first-quarter outburst. It seemed as if the six-time champion was trying to prove a point: that this championship will go through him. An aggressive Brownlee early in Game 2 figures to be a problem for TNT, who will be trying to avoid another slow start against the defending champs—something that is hard to do when Kabayan is locked in early.