WIN OR GO HOME

Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7:30 p.m. — San Miguel vs Ginebra

Whatever transpired in the first six meetings of the best-of-seven semifinals no longer holds weight.

It’s all about one final win now for San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra in an ultimate battle of heart and sheer determination for the right to advance in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup championship today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is set at 7:30 p.m., with the survivor getting a shot at glory against grand slam-seeking TNT in the best-of-seven finals erupting on Sunday.

The Kings dragged the series the full distance after digging their way out of a 16-point hole while veteran guard LA Tenorio completed the miracle at the Big Dome on Sunday with a game-winning triple in the final 3.1 seconds of an 88-87 Game 6 escape.

Leveled at 3-3, it’s judgment day for the two San Miguel Corporation franchises.

“Well, we’ll take game seven as it comes,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said.

Ginebra desires another crack at a championship after falling victim to the Tropang 5G in the import-laden season-opening Governors’ Cup and mid-season Commissioner’s Cup.

However, Cone sees the matchup between his big man Japeth Aguilar and San Miguel behemoth June Mar Fajardo as the gauge to where the momentum will shift.

Aguilar struggled with leg cramps in Game 6, a sign of how his effort to defend Fajardo has taken a toll on his body.

And it doesn’t help that the 6-foot-10 eight-time Most Valuable Player is looking healthier by the day after sustaining a calf injury in Game 1. Fajardo logged in 40 minutes last game and finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and five assists.

Aguilar played 33 minutes with 16 points but only had four boards.

“We got to get Japeth ready to play, you know 40 minutes against June Mar and that’s a tall, tall, tall order,” Cone said.

“He’s had some fatigue issues through the series and we’re just trying to keep his energy levels up. Again, like I said, trying to max the minutes of June Mar is really difficult because he gives up, you know 30, 40 pounds easy,” Cone added.

Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, Stephen Holt, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Tenorio, who scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter of Game 6, banner the Kings’ charge for a third straight finals appearance.

San Miguel, on the other hand, is fighting for a chance to get back into the all-Filipino finals after losing the crown to Meralco last year.

The Beermen, who are one step closer to the big stage after missing the playoffs last conference, have not lost two in a row in the series.

Fajardo will be backed by a solid supporting crew led by CJ Perez, Don Trollano, Rodney Brondial, Juami Tiongson and Jericho Cruz, who will try to make up for a late challenge on Tenorio’s dagger trey.