12 February 2014

A Tale of Two Game 7 Experience

Game 7 Performance
Tonight’s game between Barangay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee will mark the 23rd time that a Game 7 will be played in a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Finals.

Interestingly, both teams have won their last Game 7s against their only other sister team, the San Miguel Beermen – Petron Blaze Boosters.

The Mixers defeated the Boosters during the Game 7 of last season’s Governors’ Cup. Ginebra, meanwhile won their last Game 7 during the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals after they overcame the monster performance of Gabe Freeman of San Miguel Beermen. Former MVP, Jayjay Helterbrand, scored 25 points and issued 7 assists in that game.

The difference is that the Mixers have more Game 7s under their belt after having played eight in total with a record of 4 wins and four losses. Despite playing fewer penultimate games, Ginebra has a better record with 3 wins against a lone loss.

Also, San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone has a 5-4 record in Game 7, and 1-1 with the team as B-Meg (former name of San Mig Coffee) downed Talk ’N Text in the sudden-death during the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup but lost to Rain or Shine in the 2012 Governors’ Cup.

Ato Agustin of Barangay Ginebra, on the other hand, has played in only one Game 7 so far as a coach. He steered the Petron Blaze Boosters in defeating the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in seven games to win the 2012 PBA Governor’s Cup and prevented Talk 'N Text from winning the Grand Slam. Arwind Santos was named the Finals MVP in that series.

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