‘Twin Towers’ ikakasa ng Bolts vs GSM

MANILA, Philippines — Si 6-foot-9 rookie Brandon Bates ang ipapares ng Meralco kay 6’7 Raymond Almazan sa pagsagupa sa Barangay Ginebra sa semifinals series ng Season 48 PBA Philippine Cup.

Sina Bates at Almazan ang ibabangga ng Bolts kina 6’8 Fil-German Christian Standhardinger at 6’8 Japeth Aguilar ng Gin Kings sa kanilang best-of-seven semis showdown.

“I think we really need him against Ginebra,” sabi ni Me­ralco coach Luigi Trillo kay Bates. “You see what Standhardinger is doing, you have Japeth there. We need another big to help Raymond (Almazan). Malaking ba­­gay si Brandon moving for­ward.”

Kinumpleto ng Bolts ang two-game sweep sa NLEX Road Warriors sa ka­nilang best-of-three quarterfinals wars.

Nauna nang sinibak ng Gin Kings, nagbitbit ng ‘twice-to-beat’ advantage sa quarterfinals bilang No. 2 team, ang Magnolia Hotshots, 99-77.

Sa nasabing panalo ng Ginebra sa Magnolia ay humakot si Standhardinger ng 36 points, 11 rebounds at 5 assists.

Umaasa si Trillo na ka­yang pigilan ni Bates, ang ka­nilang first round pick no­ong nakaraang PBA Draft, si Standhardinger.