[Saba Sports News] One of the most competitive playoff matchups in the PBA in recent memory is about to take place again, as the two giants, with six top foreign aid awards, usher in a new chapter in the 49th Governor’s Cup quarterfinals.
(Source: Getty Image)
Defending Philippine Cup champions Meralco and fan favourite Barangay Ginebra will kick off a best-of-five series at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday for a ticket to the semi-finals.
This will be the eighth time the teams have played each other in the playoffs since 2016, and the fourth time Justin Brownlee and Allen Durham have led each other.
Brownlee and Ginebra have beaten Durham and Melaco three times in the finals of the Governors Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019. And in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals, Brownlee beat Melalco’s other foreign recruit.
In the 2020 Philippine Cup Bubble, Ginebra’s homegrown lineup extended their head-to-head dominance with another semi-final win over Melalco. However, Melalco finally broke the spell 2-1 in the All-Philippines 2022 and finally clinched the team’s first PBA title by beating Ginebra 4-3 in the quarterfinals of the last Philippine Cup.