Will Ginebra continue to assert its dominance over Meralco? Or can the Bolts change the outcome this time around?
It is a rivalry that has always favored one but has been nothing short of epic.
Since the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup, Ginebra has had Meralco’s number.
In their last seven meetings in the playoffs, the Gin Kings won all but one against the Bolts.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Meralco finds spark early, deals Ginebra first loss]
But make no mistake about it – despite being lopsided, they were all worth watching.
The same is expected when the two teams continue their storied rivalry beginning Friday, May 17, in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals.
Christian Standhardinger during Ginebra and Meralco's elimination round match in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup last March 15 | Photo (c) PBA
Action starts at 7:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
But before that, One Sports looks back at Ginebra and Meralco's previous encounters in the playoffs.
2016 Governors’ Cup Finals: Ginebra, 4-2
Justin Brownlee.
That was how one could sum up the rousing best-of-seven battle for the crown in the 2016 Governor's Cup which Ginebra ultimately won.
Brownlee etched his place in the Gin Kings lore after helping the franchise end an eight-year long “kangkong era” with that one go-ahead three-pointer on top of the key, against the outstretched arms of Bolts counterpart Allen Durham as time wound down.
Justin Brownlee and Bong Quinto during Ginebra and Meralco's match in the PBA Season 47 Governor's Cup on March 1, 2023 | Photo (c) PBA
With 5.5 ticks to go in Game 6 and with the score tied at 88-all, the now naturalized Filipino Brownlee received the ball from the left elbow. He was forced to go right and, after three dribbles, decided to launch the three-pointer that sent the Ginebra faithful to a frenzy inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
2017 Governors’ Cup Finals: Ginebra, 4-3
Brownlee and Durham were back for another tour of duty in Manila.
Both steered their respective teams anew to the finals.
Ginebra was quick to impose its will, winning the first two games by an average of 12.5 points.
But Meralco refused to just roll over and die.
Allen Durham during Meralco and TNT's match in the PBA Season 47 Governor's Cup on Feb. 17, 2023 | Photo (c) PBA
Durham carried the Bolts on his broad shoulders in Games 3 and 4 to level the best-of-seven showdown at 2-all.
As ubiquitous as Brownlee had been the entire series, it was the local crew who stepped up big for the Gin Kings in the trophy-clinching 101-96 win, with LA Tenorio finishing with 26 points.
2018 Commissioner’s Cup Quarterfinals: Ginebra, 2-0
Meralco and Ginebra met a little early this time around.
As the fourth- and fifth-seeded teams, the Bolts and Gin Kings figured in a best-of-three quarterfinal series.
Unlike the first two installments of their rivalry, Meralco fielded in a different import in Arinze Onuaku in a conference where the height limit for reinforcements was set at 6-foot-10.
The results remained the same, though.
Just like their two previous playoff encounters, Ginebra emerged victorious via sweep and eventually edged San Miguel in the finals, 4-2
2019 Governors’ Cup Finals: Ginebra, 4-1
With Durham back in the fold, Meralco returned to the Finals against its tormentor Ginebra.
When he powered the Bolts to a thrilling 104-102 win in Game 2 to even the best-of-seven series, it seemed that the duel was shaping up to be another classic finale.
It was not.
The Gin Kings decimated Meralco in the next three games, beating the Bolts with an average margin of 14.
Brownlee continued to establish himself as a team player, dishing out 10 assists as Japeth Aguilar topscored for Ginebra with 25 points in a 105-93 win in Game 5.
2020 Philippine Cup Semifinals (Bubble): Ginebra, 3-2
Meralco and Ginebra slugged it out in the penultimate round, taking turns in winning the first four games.
Stanley Pringle and Chris Newsome during Ginebra and Meralco's elimination round match in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup last March 15 | Photo (c) PBA
In the deciding Game 5, the Gin Kings leaned on Stanley Pringle, who was traded from NorthPort a year before that. He finished with 22 points.
But it was Scottie Thompson’s triple with 0.6 to go that allowed Ginebra to hack out an 83-80 win over the Bolts at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena to advance to the finals.
2021 Governors’ Cup Finals: Ginebra, 4-2
Meralco looked more eager for vengeance this time around.
The Bolts tapped Tony Bishop and took advantage of an injury-riddled Ginebra to take an early 2-0 series lead.
Tony Bishop during Meralco and Ginebra's match in the PBA Commissioner's Cup last Dec. 22 | Photo (c) PBA
But with the crowd back at the venue as pandemic restrictions were lifted, the Gin Kings conjured their 'Never Say Die' magic.
Before over 20,000 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena, Ginebra used a strong third quarter to beat Meralco, 103-92.
After a quiet start, Brownlee finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds to hoist his fifth PBA championship trophy.
It was Thompson who was adjudged as Finals MVP in a thrilling series where he averaged almost 18 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
2022 Philippine Cup Quarterfinals: Meralco, 2-1
After six encounters in the playoffs, Meralco finally broke through.
Raymond Almazan hit the biggest basket as the Bolts finally hammered out a 106-104 win over Ginebra in Game 3 of their quarterfinal clash.
Raymond Almazan during Meralco and Ginebra's elimination round match in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup last March 15 | Photo (c) PBA
The lanky center unloaded what turned out to be the game-winning triple with a minute remaining as Meralco salvaged the win after nearly squandering a 21-point lead.
Chris Newsome starred for the Bolts with his triple-double outing of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.