The Barangay Ginebra will try not to fall asleep when they face off against the lowly Terrafirma Dyip. Ginebra will still have to be on its toes, especially since it is coming off its first loss of the season. Will the Barangay avoid getting upset? Or, will Terrafirma pull off a stunner?

Catch this game live on Wednesday,  December 18 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2-1)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Scottie Thompson
  • Stephen Holt
  • Justin Brownlee
  • Troy Rosario
  • Japeth Aguilar

Ginebra got tripped last Sunday by guest team Hong Kong Eastern, 93-90. It was the first loss in the conference for Barangay, which they can charge to poor shooting. Ginebra shot just 43.1 percent from the floor and posted an absolutely horrid 1-for-19 shooting from behind the arc. Justin Brownlee had 18 points but needed 23 shots from the field to get there.

 Japeth Aguilar shined for Ginebra with his 26 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field, but it’s Brownlee who’s going to be the Barangay’s barometer most of the time. With just the winless Terrafirma on their plate this Wednesday, Ginebra should be able to find a way to win even if they shoot poorly again. Terrafirma’s defense has been as sturdy as a wet cardboard, with the Dyip allowing 107.0 points per game so far in the conference.

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Terrafirma Dyip (0-5)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Aljun Melecio
  • Brent Paraiso
  • CJ Catapusan
  • Vic Manuel
  • Brandon Edwards

After losing its first three games in the conference, Terrafirma decided to change its import, as the Dyip replaced Ryan Richards with Brandon Edwards. Well, different import, same old results for the perennially miserable Terrafirma, who lost to the Meralco Bolts, 96-93, and San Miguel Beermen, 106-88, since the import switch. 

It will take more than just a change in reinforcement for Terrafirma to turn things around, but based on its three-point loss to Meralco, the Dyip are at least capable of giving a quality opponent a run for its money. Despite being winless, the Dyip can pull off surprises here and there in a game, with the likes of Mark Nonoy, veteran Vic Manuel and Stanley Pringle capable of putting together good individual performances. Against the Beermen, Nonoy dropped 14 points while Manuel and Pringle had 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Picks

Spread: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (-16.5)

Over/Under: Over (193.5)

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