By the numbers: SMB-Ginebra series too close to call

Games Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines – Defending PBA Commissioner’s Cup champ San Miguel Beer and reigning two-time Governors Cup titlist Barangay Ginebra begin Friday at the Big Dome a championship series that could really be a fight for the ages.

PBA officials and fans foresee a showdown to remember between the two teams touted as the best of their time and probably among the best of all time.

Both struggled badly at the start of the tourney but picked up their games late in the elims, and will both ride momentum of post-elims romps as they slug it out for the second conference crown.

Interestingly, the two teams had identical 11-6 win-loss marks through the semifinals.

By the numbers, the two teams are almost equal. The glaring differences are San Miguel Beer’s advantage on points-for and Ginebra’s advantage on points allowed to its opponent.

Thus technically, it’s a series of offense versus defense.

The Beermen are No. 2 in the tourney on offense, averaging 106.35 points a game as against the Kings’ 98.82. But Ginebra is No. 3 on defense, giving away only 93.5 points as against SMB’s 103.

San Miguel has the edge on rebounds, 53.3-52.8, but Ginebra is up on assists, 26.1-24.2.

SMB does better in blocking shots, 5.8-3.7, but Ginebra gets more steals, 9.1-8.8.

The Beermen score more fastbreak points, 16.1-11, but the Kings hit better from beyond the arc with their 33.2-percent clip as against SMB’s 31.7 percent.

Another key advantage for the Beermen is their more frequent trips to the line. Because of the constant double-teaming defense drawn by June Mar Fajardo, San Miguel is the runaway winner in free throws in the tournament with a total of 452. Rain or Shine is second with 427 while Ginebra third with 395.

But with Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar, Ginebra may not need to double up on Fajardo.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone is confident they have the defensive skills to match up with the Beermen and they have the offensive weapons to battle with SMB’s.

Justin Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman themselves sport almost identical numbers.

Brownlee averages 28.08 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks while Balkman norms 28.07 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.2 blocks.

The champion imports of Alab Pilipinas in their ABL title run, Brownlee and Balkman said they are brothers for life but will fight to the end in their championship duel.

Japeth Aguilar (14.3 points), Greg Slaughter (12.4) and LA Tenorio (11.5) are Ginebra locals averaging in double figures. A key addition is mid-tournament trade recruit Jeff Chan who norms 9.61 points a game.

For SMB, Fajardo is no doubt the local player to watch with his hulking averages of 20.24 points and 12.0 rebounds.

Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Christian Standhardinger, Kelly Nabong and Brian Heruela are the other guys usually used by coach Leo Austria in his short rotation.