The Ynares Center-Antipolo will host the debut game of the recently crowned Commissioner’s Cup champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the 2022-23 PBA Governors’ Cup this Sunday. Ginebra will be up against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who are still looking for their first win of the conference.

Catch this game live on Sunday,  February 5at 6:45 pm, Manila time.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (0-0)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Scottie Thompson
  • SG: Stanley Pringle
  • SF: Jamie Malonzo
  • PF: Justin Brownlee
  • C: Japeth Aguilar

Ginebra will run the same unit it had in the last conference, which is a good thing for the Barangay. By still having Justin Brownlee as import, there’s no need for Ginebra to have an adjustment period with him. In the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Brownlee averaged 29.2 points on 49.7 percent shooting from the field, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. With smaller imports to compete this time around, Ginebra’s size will be a bigger factor in favor of the Barangay.

 Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger can flex their muscles inside. At the same time, the combination of Jamie Malonzo’s size and athleticism will allow him to take the defensive responsibility on the Rain or Shine import, thus lessening the burden on Brownlee. Even after a long rest, Ginebra should be more than ready to deal with a Rain or Shine team that is arguably the worst-offensive team in the league this conference and carries a middling defense. Ginebra is also 4-1 SU in its last five meetings with the Elasto Painters.

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Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (0-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Rey Nambatac
  • SG: Andrei Caracut
  • SF: Gabe Norwood
  • PF: Michael Qualls
  • C: Jewel Ponferada

Say what you want about the winless Elasto Painters, but they still won the last time they met Ginebra. Back in the last conference, Rain or Shine eked out a 93-71 win against the Barangay, with import Steve Taylor, Jr. leading the way and the team’s defense putting on the clamps. This time, Rain or Shine has Michael Qualls, who is averaging 27.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in the conference. Rey Nambatac is No. 2 on the team with 18.0 points per outing. 

In the most recent outing between these teams, Rain or Shine held Brownlee down to only 7/25 shooting from the field. With Qualls, the Elasto Painters have a better import matchup against Brownlee. Although their offense is last in the league so far in terms of efficiency, the Elasto Painters have scored at least 98 points in each of its last two games, including their 112-98 loss to the Converge FiberXers last Thusday.

PREDICTION:

Spread: Rain or Shine (+7) covers.

Over/Under: The total (201.) hits the Under.