-min.png)
With a 2-0 sweep of the Elasto Painters, Ginebra advances to take on defending champion San Miguel Beer in a best-of-7 semifinals series. (Editor's note: A previous version of this story mentioned it was a best-of-5 semifinals.)
"For me, it's the hardest series to win, the (quarterfinal) series, just because there's so much pressure to make the semis all the time," Ginebra coach Tim Cone said.
"So when it finally gets to it, it's truly a relief.
2018 Semis: Barangay Ginebra vs. San Miguel Beermen
"I felt that they really outplayed us in the first half and we were lucky to hang around and still be within striking distance."
Jervy Cruz added 18 points and LA Tenorio 17, as Ginebra takes on June Mar Fajardo and his crew in a matchup between two teams that met in last year's all-Filipino conference finals.
Against Rain Or Shine, Ginebra took the lead for good with a 15-4 run to start the second half, erasing a 6-point deficit to go up 58-53.
Cone and co. couldn't break loose of a tough Elasto Painters squad, though, relying on big baskets from everyone and Rain Or Shine's mistakes to prevail.
Maverick Ahanmisi finished with 18 points to lead Rain Or Shine, which lost 3 straight to Ginebra to finish its campaign.
SOURCE: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/07/18/pba-ginebra-sweeps-rain-or-shine-sets-up-semis-series-with-san-miguel
-min.png)