FOR the first time in 16 years, no San Miguel Corp. (SMC) team or Manny V. Pangilinan squad is in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The heavyweights sputtered in the Commissioner’s Cup’s preliminary rounds, with Rain or Shine and Alaska the last two teams standings in the midseason conference.
The Aces and the Elasto Painters promised a heavyweight battle as they begin their best-of-seven championship series of the Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game One is set at 7 p.m., with either teams trying to end their losing streaks in the finals.
Rain or Shine, which eliminated No. 1 seed San Miguel Beer in the semifinals, has lost its last four finals stints, while Alaska, which edged second seed Meralco in their semifinal series, is runner-up in its last three finals appearances, all to Beermen.
One team is for sure will end the drought, while the other will continue to suffer.
“Rain or Shine is a different team and they’re sort of a role model. They are playing well so fast with great confidence,” said Aces Head Coach Alex Compton, who is still searching his first PBA crown.
Compton’s wards needed five games to repulse the Bolts, giving their opponents extra time to rest as the latter needed just four games to enter the finals.
“Our only advantage is that we have a little more time to rest,” said Elasto Painters assistant mentor Caloy Garcia, who subbed for Head Coach Yeng Guiao during the finals press conference on Thursday at the PBA Café.
Guiao will be eyeing his sixth title and second for the Rain or Shine franchise, while Alaska is gunning for its 15th crown and second outside the Tim Cone era.
Calvin Abueva, the front-runner in the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award, will be the player to watch in the series and is expecting a physical battle against Rain or Shine’s frontline, led by Beau Belga, Raymund Almazan and JR Quiñahan.
“Hindi ko iniisip ang BPC. Ang mind-set ko nasa finals,” Abueva said. Jayvee Casio has been declared out of the finals, while Eric Menk and Vic Manuel could play in the finals.
The import matchup is also interesting, as the Elasto Painters’ Pierre Henderson-Niles and Aces’ Rob Dozier, were once teammates at the University of Memphis. They are now also the leading candidates for the Best Import trophy.
“This will be a good matchup,” Henderson-Niles said.
Image credits: PBA Image