Both the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painers are going for win no. 2 in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup when they square off this Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, June 15 at 6 pm, Manila time.
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (1-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: LA Tenorio
- SG: Stanley Pringle
- SG: Scottie Thompson
- PF: Christian Standhardinger
- C: Japeth Aguilar
The Barangay had a bit of a shaky start to their 2022 PBA Philippine Cup campaign but they still got the job done to score an 85-82 win over the upset-seeking Blackwater Bossing Sunday night. Ginebra failed to cover the spread as an 8.5-point spread favorite, as the Bossing showed so much fight for the most part of the game until the Barangay flexed their muscles in the fourth period where they outscored Blackwater, 24-15.
The frontcourt tandem of Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar combined for 36 points and 13 rebounds, with Aguilar swatting away 5 shots. They remain an imposing big-man tandem whose abilities around the rim perfectly complement the playmaking of Ginebra’s backcourt. Reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson had a near trip-dub of 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists against Blackwater. Thompson is only getting better, and seeing him become savvier in running pick & rolls and throwing darting assists off drives only elevates an already potent Ginebra offense.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-1)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Andrei Caracut
- SG: Rey Nambatac
- SF: Vincent Tolentino
- PF: Leonard Santillan
- C: Jewel Ponferada
Rain or Shine is coming off a loss, as it lost to the NorthPort Batang Pier last Thursday, 94-81. Prior to that, the Elasto Painters handed the Converge Fiber Xers a 79-77 loss on June 5. Michael Joseph Nieto came off the bench and fired 19 points to lead the Elasto Painters in the NorthPort game, while Leonard Santillan impressed anew with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Santillan should continue getting starter minutes with the way he’s playing.
In the win over Converge, Santillan looked good with 18 points and 9 rebounds. With Santillan, Jewel Ponferada, and a still-operative Beau Belga, the Elasto Painters have enough beef to slow down Ginebra’s Twin Tower. Meanwhile, the team is still waiting for Rey Nambatac to round into form. He’s shot just 4/22 in the last two games. Two-straight games of poor shooting is too long for a talented scorer like Nambatac, who will always be a threat regardless of his performance in the previous contest.
PREDICTION:
Spread: Ginebra covers (-6).
Over/Under: Taking the Under (172).
