Beermen, Gin Kings brace for classic finale
Game Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Ginebra
Two great champion teams, two imposing big men, two explosive imports and two brilliant minds.
Add a pair of solid back-up crew ready to step up at any given game, this upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals has all the trimmings of a classic series.
In a fortnight starting Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra finally clash in a finale many are aching to see with the former staking its crown against a dangerous rival in what promises to be a thriller of a best-of-seven series.
The Beermen have been 6-of-6 in PBA Finals in the last 10 conferences but may face their biggest challenge now against a team which has been 2-of-3 in the championships in the last four tourneys.
“It’s nice to have that achievement of being perfect in the finals, but it’s not a guarantee of winning another one. It’s different now as we’re playing the hottest team in the PBA right now,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria during the pre-finals press conference at Sambokijin restaurant in Eastwood City yesterday.
“They have won 10 of their last 11 games. They’re playing like a well-oiled machine right now. So I expect a tough series,” Austria added.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone concedes San Miguel is the superior team but he’s confident they can give them a good fight.
“It’s a real honor to be playing San Miguel Beer in the finals. It’s such a great challenge. You can’t pick a bigger challenge. I hope our guys embrace it and go for it,” said Cone.
“They may well be the greatest team of all time, but among all the teams in the PBA now, I think we have the lineup that can match up with them,” Cone also said.
It’s a dream series rich in subplots and replete in side duels.
The two teams have had their previous title showdown in last year’s Philippine Cup dominated by the Beermen. But Ginebra is a different team now with all its core players healthy and raring to plunge into action.
There is Greg Slaughter who’s a big key in their turnaround from a woeful 1-5 start in the tourney. The 7-foot-1 behemoth is looking forward to a first-ever PBA title showdown with his collegiate rival June Mar Fajardo.
There’s also Justin Brownlee, Ginebra’s lethal weapon in their back-to-back title runs in the Governors Cup.
Brownlee, meanwhile, is pitted against Renaldo Balkman in a curious duel between two players who fought side by side in their title run with Alab Pilipinas in the ABL.
“We’re brothers for life. But he’s on the opposing side, and he’s an opponent now. It will be a fight to the end. May the best man win,” said Brownlee.
And if San Miguel has Arwind Santos and Christian Standhardinger to surround Fajardo, Ginebra has Joe Devance and Japeth Aguilar to backstop Slaughter.
Matchups in the wings and in the backcourt also provide excitement.
“It could really be two weeks of great basketball finals,” said Alex Cabagnot, a PBA MVP Final winner pitted against fellow PBA MVP Final winner in LA Tenorio.