On Tuesday night, two teams will clash against each other to
try on dating with destiny and be on the history. One will be chasing a
grand-slam, and the other one will be playing the role of a spoiler – San Mig Coffee
and Rain Or Shine respectively.
Road to finals
These two teams were both on a
twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
San Mig Coffee though finishing
the match in first game, it was a closed and hard – fought one, with only
leading 97-91, to enter their semifinals series against the No.1 seed Talk ‘N
Text.
On the other hand, Rain or Shine was
able to dominate Air 21 in their match, having a 21 commanding point lead,
111-90 to make their way into the semifinals up against the Alaska Aces.
Coming into the next round, San
Mig Coffee took a strong start as they lead the series, 2-0 against Talk ‘N
Text. However, Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo, the known to be, one-two
punch of the Texters together with their import Paul Harris, refused to give-up
that easy. On the next two games, they were able to caught San Mig Coffee
off-guard with their suffocating zone defense and hot shooting from all the
cylinders. During the game four of this series, James Yap’s off-balanced,
one-hander shot put the game into overtime and just when we were about to feel,
that momentum totally shifted with the Mixers, Coach Norman Black’s 15-man
rotation had paid-off, and tied the series to force a do-or-die game.
Flipping on the next page, the Painters
had a slight edge, considering that 51 point dominating victory against the
Aces during their eliminations match. But Alaska fought hard and also forced
Rain or Shine on a game five. The perfect evidence was in their 4th
game bout; Alaska also took the game into overtime but just fell short as JV
Casio slipped and unable to finish the game; ROS won and tied the series.
Both series went to the fullest. That’s what we call,
basketball as its finest. These four teams showed that they all deserved to be
here. But, only two needs to complete the finals seats in the finals.
San Mig Coffee booked the first ticket, after beating Talk ‘N
Text lead by Big Game James Yap who became consistent in their fourth to last
semifinals game. Then, last Saturday, Coach Yeng Guiao with the rest of his
players ended Coach Alex Compton and his Alaska’s hopes on dating with San Mig
Coffee in the finals.
Key Match Ups
Chris Tiu and Marc
Barroca
These point guards are identified as two-dimensional
players. They both defend huskily but could also create for themselves to get
much needed points.
Gabe Norwood and Joe
de Vance
If Tim Cone goes big, Coach Yeng can do it too because of
these two. Point guard, forward and center (if there’s a chance) are all the positions
they can fill up. I believe that these two are both a “walking mismatch” on the
floor on whichever team they are up against to. Well, but not this time.
Beau Belga vs Marc Pingris
I’m pretty sure that, these two will be assigned tasked to
guard each opponent’s import. Belga and Pingris are both role players who can
rise up when badly needed, do not back down easily and both can do the dirty
works and everything invisible in the stats sheets.
Arizona Reid vs
Marqus Blakely
These two imports are both best on their own style and brand
of play. Reid is more on an offensive player who can shoot both from two and
three point area in any given time. On the other hand, Blakely is a defensive
demon who sparks his team by grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, and will just
muscle his way through the paint continuously if needed.
Jeff Chan and Paul
Lee vs James Yap and PJ Simon.
Though having that “no superstars policy” by Coach Yeng
Guiao, we can’t escape the fact that Chan and Lee are the ones who are most
remembered when fans think about Rain or Shine, besides the fact that they are
all part of the National Team. These two are known to be snipers from the
rainbow country but also capable enough on driving strong towards the basket.
On the other hand, although San Mig Coffee has numerous
rising stars, Coach Tim Cone still relies on these two veterans who began to
evolve from scorers to be reliable defenders also.
ROS will win if:
1.
They do not settle for the outside shots.
2.
They will pound on San Mig’s interior defense
putting either or both Blakely and Pingris into early foul trouble.
3.
They will attack as early as possible; don’t let
San Mig Coffee establish their defense.
4.
Coach Yeng Guiao shall keep fresher legs; of
course to make the game’s pace be as fast as possible.
San Mig Coffee will
win if:
1.
They do not force their shots and look for an
open man.
2.
Blakely will get his touch early and avoid an
early foul-trouble by playing honest defense.
3.
They will maintain the tempo as slow as
possible, as keeping the score low; but run if will have a chance.
4.
Coach Tim Cone shall widen up his rotation; the
starters played a lot of minutes in the semifinals.
Fearless Forecast
The last time they faced each other in the Phillipine Cup’s
Finals just this season, San Mig Coffee ended the series early in 4-2.
Coach Yeng said, “We want to make our own history” and having
said that, ROS will try everything to spoil San Mig Coffee’s Grand Slam dream.
But, San Mig Coffee’s series against Talk ‘N Text toughened
them, having them learned a lot that will be useful in ending the Series on
Game Five and be the fifth team in the PBA to accomplish a Grand Slam.
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