“One day more. Another day, Another destiny.”
These words may probably be ringing in the ears of all the protagonists in the semifinal round of the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble edition of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Each team has its own date with destiny as they all are at the threshold of reaching the finals of the most coveted crown in Asia’s oldest play-for-pay league.
The semifinals, currently being held at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Sports Center and Cultural Arena in Angeles, Pampanga, is a real slam-bang affair, with neither teams willing to concede and go home early.
Between TNT Tropang Giga versus Phoenix Super LPG, and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel versus the Meralco Bolts, it’s going to be a do-or-die, sudden-death affair as all teams only need to win one more game to determine who will duke it out for the finals of the PBA’s most prestigious diadem.
It is a date with destiny, no doubt.
For TNT and the Gin Kings, it will be their first chance in a long while to go back to the finals of the Philippine Cup (formerly the All-Filipino Cup). For the Fuelmasters, it will be their first-ever trip to the finals–in any conference for that matter, while for the Bolts, a chance to be in the finals of the Philippine Cup will also be a historic first for them, having been a finalist during the Governors Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019 editions, ironically as runners-up to the Gin Kings.
One thing is for sure, though–there will be no Gin Kings and Bolts matchup for the finals.
Last Wednesday, TNT tripped Phoenix, 102-101, behind the heroics of Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., who dropped 36 points and doused water on a fierce fightback by the Fuelmasters and Matthew Wright’s own heroic output of 34 points to even up their series.
In the other semis pairing, the Bolts lived another day by holding their own with an 83-80 decision over the Gin Kings. Ageless legend Reynel Hugnatan topscored for the embattled Bolts with 19 points while ace gunner Stanley Pringle contributed 18 markers for the Gin Kings’ cause.
So who will it be for the Finals? Take your pick. The only promise is that all teams will bring it all they’ve got, injuries or not!