Petron, San Mig evenly matched in title series

Game today (Mall of Asia Arena) 8 p.m. – Petron Blaze vs Mig Coffee

Petron Blaze and San Mig Coffee hope to come out strong from a four-day rest as they figure in what is expected to be a slam-bang battle right in the opener of their P T Telpad PBA Governors best-of-seven titular playoff at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City tonight.

The consensus is that it’s a toss-up between two teams with highly formidable rosters but with contrasting styles.

And the team to impose its game is likely to be ain or Shine’s successor as ruler of the seasonending tourney.

The Boosters, deadly with their up-tempo game, and the Mixers, thriving on a disciplined halfcourt game, begin their series at p.m. tonight.

At the half, San Mig Coffee and Barangay Ginebra dispute the rights for the top pick in the coming ookie raft. The Mixers’ and the ings’ cracks at the top pick originally belonged to Globalport and Air21, respectively. The rights were transferred from previous trade deals.

Meanwhile, Sports5 officials announced they’re moving the telecast of the finals series over to TV5 with delayed airing over Aksyon TV.

Coaches Tim Cone of San Mig Coffee and Gee Abanilla of Petron Blaze, in chase of a special place in league history, both downplayed their respective team’s strength and chances.

“ e are the underdogs in this thing, but we’re ready,” said Cone.

“Petron hasn’t really had a hard time. They’ve been in smooth sailing. They’re really gonna be a tough opponent for us. e’ll be the underdogs, but we’ll take on that and go at them,” Cone also said.

“If anybody should be the underdog in the series, it should be me,” said Abanilla, pointing out he’s a rookie coach engaging in a duel of wits with a veteran tactician with 1 titles under his credit.

“It’s good that I have a staff which is able and gives me great support, and that should lessen my disadvantage. But coach Tim’s experience in this thing (finals) is a huge plus for them,” Abanilla added.

NOTES: Petron teammates Junmar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot have muddled up the fight for the Best Player of the Conference honors with their big charge in the quarters and in the semis. Fajardo, now with a stats points average of 29.4, leapfrogged from seventh to third place behind Ginebra’s LA Tenorio (33.3) and another Petron teammate Arwind Santos (31.1). Cabagnot, meanwhile, improved his stats average from 28.2 to 29.36 at fifth place. Jay Washington (29.4) moved down from third to fourth while Mark Caguioa (28.8) bombed out of the Magic Five…..