EXPECT no soft treatment as two of Ramon Ang’s storied franchises—Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel—open their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Finals series on Friday.
More than the jewels in the Jun Bernardino trophy, the two squads eye to accomplish separate missions. Pride and glory are the usual incentives. To entertain thousands of their fans, however, may be the main driving force of each team.
Defending champions Beermen is a heavy favorite among all ball clubs due to its talented crew led by the towering presence of June Mar Fajardo. San Miguel is taking its title-retention bid to another level—a record-tying third-straight Philippine Cup title.
TNT did it three years ago when the quartet of Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo propelled the Manny V. Pangilinan-backed team to a record-setting three consecutive championships.
But the Beermen, intact and favored under Head Coach Leo Austria, may soon settle a tie to the rare feat if it pulls all stops to dump its sister-team Gin Kings—the league’s crowd-darling.
“It’s nice to be back here in the Finals. This series will be tough and exciting for all fans,” Austria said. “At the start of the season, everyone is saying that we are the powerhouse team. But now I can say that our opponent can bring full house.
Austria also acknowledged the support of Barangay Ginebra’s legion of fans.
The Gin Kings beat the KaTropa in an exhausting seven games. In their last encounter, San Miguel just carried its championship composure to blast TNT, 96-83, on Monday.
In previous clashes of San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra in a PBA Finals series, the Beermen won three out of four match-ups.
San Miguel came on top in 2009 in the Fiesta conference (4-3), in 2001 All-Filipino (4-2) and in the 1989 Reinforced Cup against the Anejo franchise (4-1). Barangay Ginebra managed to win one in the 2007 Philippine Cup in six games.
Meanwhile, the Gin Kings target to pocket their second-straight crown after taking the Governors’ Cup title that ended their eight-year drought.
Head Coach Tim Cone, already the winningest man with 19 championships, said that despite his impressive résumé, he will not take any series lightly.
“Every series is different. San Miguel is a talented team,” Cone said. “I know that Coach Leo will give his best. We can just play great basketball.”
Barangay Ginebra also came out puffing from a long series against rival but sister-team Star. The Gin Kings recently disposed the Hotshots, 89-76, behind the blazing guns of LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar, and the defensive prowess of Sol Mercado and Chris Ross.
After the series opener on Friday at the Mall of Asia (MoA) Arena in Pasay City, the league goes to Lucena City for an out-of-town Finals game. Game Three, Four and Five will be at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while the remaining two venues, if necessary, will return at the MoA Arena.