By Jonas Terrado
The PBA on Thursday moved the start of the Governors’ Cup Finals to Jan. 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in order for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel ample rest in-between Games 1 and 2.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Stanley Pringle attempts to move past Meralco import Allen Durham during their elimination round meeting in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup. (PBA Images)
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the decision came after granting the request of both teams for a longer respite with the second game of the best-of-seven series set for Jan. 10 in Lucena City.
Marcial also got the nod of Araneta and broadcast partner ESPN5 after being informed of the request.
Game 1 was initially set for Jan. 8 at the Big Dome, but such schedule will force Ginebra and Meralco to endure a shorter recovery period as they are slated to take on a four-hour bus ride to Lucena on the eve of Game 2.
No changes were made for the rest of the series with Araneta set to host Game 3 on Jan. 12 and Game 4 on Jan. 15.
If necessary, Game 5 will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Jan. 17 while the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan is going to be the site of Game 6 on Jan. 19 and Game 7 on Jan. 22.
Ginebra and Meralco are scheduled to return to their practice facilities on Friday to begin mapping out their plans for the Finals.
It will be the third Finals meeting between the two teams in the last four editions of the season-ending tournament, with Ginebra winning the previous two meetings.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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