Hottest team Barangay Ginebra eyes to extend its winning streak when it attempts to draw first blood against top seed Rain or Shine in Game 1 of their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup semi-finals today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Action begins at 7 p.m. with the Gin Kings rekindling their rivalry with the Elasto Painters nine years after their first semi-finals meeting.

Back in 2009, Barangay Ginebra edged Rain or Shine in the best-of-seven Fiesta Conference semis, 4-2.

Now holding a seven-game winning streak from the eliminations, Ginebra is picked to prevail and continue its winning ways against the elimination round’s best team Rain or Shine.

But while this is a booster for Ginebra heading into the Final Four, head coach Tim Cone is concerned they might be due for a stumble anytime ahead.

“A seven-game winning streak is both a blessing and a curse,” he said. “Yes, we have momentum entering the semis but we also know that we’ll eventually come down from the mountain.”

After starting the conference with a forgettable 1-5 record, Ginebra pressed on its switch to close the elimination round with five straight wins and salvage the fifth spot with 6-5 slate.

Riding on momentum, the Gin Kings couldn’t be stopped even in the quarterfinals as they swept rival Meralco in two games to reach the semi-finals for the second conference in a row.

Cone said they peaked so early and a sudden fall would be difficult to turn around.

“We’re on top of the mountain. We reached the peak. We’re playing pretty well but when we start tumbling down the mountain, it will be hard to get your feet back,” he said.

That explains why Cone and his wards are not lowering their guards against their foes even if the Elasto Painters are just coming off an exhausting quarterfinals series against the lowest-ranked Globalport on Thursday.

“We’re on a good streak. We’ll hold on it for as long as we can. We have to sustain the momentum for as long as we can,” he said.

Armed with the twice-to-beat incentives as the top seed, Rain or Shine shrugged off the pesky Batang Pier in Game 2 with just a narrow 103-97 win to crawl into the semi-finals for the first time in two years.

“Ginebra is playing probably the best basketball in the league,” he said. “It’s going to be hard to beat them especially the way they’re playing and Tim Cone on their side,” Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said.