PBA PhilCup SF: Powerade vs Rain or Shine

Magkakaalaman na: Casio vs Lee

While most of the media attention rightfully belongs to the other PBA Philippine Cup Semi Finals match-up owing to the participants history and off-court rivalry, people shouldn't sleep on the Powerade Tigers vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Best of Seven Semis.

The Tigers, as shown by ace Gary David, are still on a collective high after vanquishing the proud and mighty BMeg Llamados in an upset of epic proportions in the Quarter Finals. The Elasto Painters on the other hand, weren't really that much of an underdog when they dispatched the inconsistent Ginebra Gin Kings (they were ranked 4 and 5 so it was really closer than people thought).

From the outside looking in, both teams preach the same perimeter-oriented style of offense. It's on the defensive end where both teams will be truly tested, the Tigers rely more on speed, athleticism and activity on defense while the E-Painters just wear opponents out with its physicality dished by just about everyone not named Gabe Norwood.

PG Jayvee Casio/ Celino Cruz vs Gabe Norwood/ Paul Lee
This will be the marquee match-up of the series, with RoS gaining a huge advantage with Gabe Norwood's length and athleticism. Though GNorwood has proven to be a complete dud on defense, I trust him enough to have the fight to stay in front of his smaller counterparts-- specially Casio and Cruz who are not as speedy as other guards in the league. Lee will also have his day in the sun by either posting up or simply running through Casio. This might force Tigers' coach Bo Perasol to go with Cruz, who maybe smaller, but has enough moxie to stay with Lee. Vice versa, Lee will be able to stay with Cruz, but will have problems guarding Casio laterally (Lee's a monster one on one given his ball handling and finishing skills, but defensively he's slow to move side to side).

SG Gary David vs Jeffrei Chan
The thing with David, despite the numerous times this writer has professed and expressed his "grown man love" for the Bataan Bombe, is that when he's hot, he's hot. And when he's not, well, he tends to shoot himself and even his teammates on the foot. So yes, though David is a better shooter than the famed James Yap, he belongs in the "scorer" mold. Chan on the other hand, has transformed himself into a "shooter." Lights out. Don't expect to see these two stopping one another in the series (I expect both Lassiter and Arana to switch assignments at some point), but of the two, a slight edge should be given to Chan who plays passable defense (since his FEU days). For David and the Tigers, they need to attack Chan early and get him in foul trouble to take away an important facet of RoS' game (kick-out basketball). Chan? He has proven time and again that he's effective without the ball and is maximized when playing with the "has eyes on the back of his head" Lee.

SF Marcio Lassiter vs Ryan Arana/ Jireh Ybanez
Arguably the most explosive match-up in this series other than the potential expletives and staredowns to be traded by Alex Crisano and the rest of the RoS bigs, Lassiter and Arana provide their teams with all the intangibles that their more popular, TV-friendly teammates do not. From a coaching perspective, it would be wise for both coaches to switch Lassiter on Chan and Arana on David-- if only to keep their own stars fresh for the stretch. Lassiter has the range to make Arana work, but other than ex-DLSU teammate Mac Cardona, there's no one craftier and more unorthodox than RoS' resident perimeter defender. Also, expect Lassiter to be in constant foul trouble should he be asked to guard Arana, owing to the latter's sudden aggressiveness to the basket and timely spins.

PF Sean Anthony vs Ronnie Matias/ Larry Rodriguez/ Jervy Cruz
Rudy Hatfield v 2.0 versus the league's most underrated power forward troika. Anthony will have his hands full on this one, since Matias is an accomplished post player who has a nifty jumper. Then there's Rodriguez, who's pretty much the same player as Matias only a bit slower. Cruz? Another solid power forward who is at his best in the shaded lane picking up drop passes.

C Doug Kramer/ Rommel Adducul/ Alex Crisano vs JayR Quinahan/ Beau Belga
Who has more ink on his arms-- Quinahan or Crisano? The pressure will be on Powerade because RoS' bigs prefer lurking by the three point lane-- something that will force their guards to rebound the basketball (easier said than done against RoS' Lee, Norwood and Arana). On the block, none of the names above are double-worthy so it's all going to come down on who scores more-- with an edge to both Quinahan and Belga. And though the co-founders of "Extra Rice, Inc." are not established shotblockers, they are arguably two of the best screen-setters in the PBA and are almost unmindful of handing out body checks here and there.

In summary, while the Tigers are enjoying a basketball high the last four or five games, don't expect them to win over the E-Painters in a seven game series anytime soon.