Ginebra, Meralco rekindle rivalry


At a glance

  • Barangay Ginebra and Meralco begin another chapter of their storied rivalry while San Miguel tests the mettle of Converge in the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 26.


Barangay Ginebra and Meralco begin another chapter of their storied rivalry while San Miguel tests the mettle of Converge in the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 26.

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Bolts' Allen Durham meets Kings' Justin Brownlee in Game 1 at 5 p.m. before the Beermen parade a new import against the FiberXers in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.

Although not as grand as their previous three meetings where they fought in the Finals, the same fire and intensity are expected from both Durham and Brownlee who have cemented themselves as one of the most accomplished imports in the season-opening conference.

Both of them have three PBA Import awards to their belts although Brownlee has six champions to brag about against Durham.

The Meralco import is hoping to finally win one but he has to go through the same team that denied him thrice to claim his very first PBA title.

Of course, the game will not only revolve around the two, with their respective squads also boasting formidable cast to support them.

Durham has the core of the Philippine Cup champions in the likes of Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto and Raymond Almazan while Brownlee has a retooled crew with RJ Abarrientos and Stephen Holt adding to Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson and comebacking Joe Devance

Meanwhile in the second game, the Beermen are keeping their fingers crossed that new import EJ Anosike is a good fit after losing high-scoring import Jordan Adams to a hamstring injury late in the eliminations.

SMB certainly has the tools and firepower with Marcio Lassiter, June Mar Fajardo, Cj Perez and Terrence Romeo but the chemistry with the new import is something the coaches would want to keep an eye on during the series.

Easier said than done, however, against the Beermen and the FiberXers will need the A games from import Jalen Jones along with locals Justin Arana, Alec Stockton, and Schonny Winston to do so.