TOURNAMENT favorites Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer will go for a sweep of their respective series as Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup moves back to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Monday.
The Gin Kings jumped to a 2-0 lead, thanks to Justin Brownlee's game-winning three-point shot.
The PBA's most popular squad will go for no less than a sweep of its series when it faces Meralco at 5 p.m.
Similarly, San Miguel will be gunning for its own series sweep against Converge when both squads collide at 7:30 p.m.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted that nothing comes easy against Meralco.
"We were shooting the lights out from the beginning of the game," Cone said, referring to the Gin Kings' jackrabbit start in Game 2. "But they (Bolts) are a calm team. They're not gonna panic. Going Game 3, 4 or 5 and play the game the way they play, know how to play it. That's the reason why they are tough, they are extremely well coached."
Meralco rode on the board shoulders of import Allen Durham, who had 39 points and 13 rebounds.
But Ginebra had Brownlee to rely on when the going gets tough.
And the well-loved Ginebra import delivered another epic performance down the stretch, shooting that game-winning triple over Durham to the delight of the Gin Kings fans at the Big Dome.
"We jumped on the broad shoulders of Justin (in Game 2). We've done that many times in the past, but we also had that realization that we can't do that every night, so we gotta do better next game," he added.
The Bolts' backs are against the wall.
Brownlee said he expects Meralco to come out swinging the moment Game 3 begins.
"They are a tough team, and we know they will bounce back hard. The next game they will come out harder," said Brownlee, who is out to lead Ginebra again.
"Coach was always saying, the only thing we expect is one point win. That's what we got tonight and we hope to continue to work hard and get that one point win."
As for the Beermen, they are also bracing a tough Game 3 against a FiberXers side that fought to the end in each of the first two games of the series.
"I'm sure they will come out strong going to Monday's game," said SMB coach Jorge Gallent. "We have to stay focused, bring our energy. We just have to think it's a do-or-die game so we don't relax, but we come out strong and play for 48 minutes."
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