PBA GovCup Finals: Do-or-die Sunday

To win game 7: Yap needs to dominate.
Norwood needs to play smarter.

For one night, let's forget that the upstart Rain or Shine Elastopainters over-achieved this conference and jumped to a 3-1 Finals lead.

For one night, let's all forget that James Yap, 2x PBA Most Valuable Player, has been playing like a king not to be denied of his throne the last two-three outings.

For one night, let's just enjoy the last game of such an entertaining 37th PBA season that has provided us with joy, heartbreak, frustration and even hope wether you are a Barangay Ginebra fan or a masochistic Air21 hopeful.

If the Elastopainters want to win their first ever title, then they should simply go back to what was working for them early. Import Jamelle Cornley down low, Beau Belga at the high post, Gabe Norwood not being such a dud and Jeffrei Chan taking more shots as a chief gunner should. As much as we'd like to put the blame on Norwood for all of his inconsistencies and wasted movement on the floor, it's Chan who has failed to rise up for his team without ace playmaking rookie Paul Lee.

Granted, the BMeg Llamados' defense can now zero in on Chan-- with Norwood not looking to score, but that's something that superstars do. Take shots no matter the situations. If Chan can learn this by tomorrow and act like one of the league's best marksmen, then he will make that next step into bonafide "alpha dog" territory.

The last two games, because of Norwood being such an idiot on offense, all the Llamados have to do are zero in on their assignments. All the flashy, wiry Fil-Am can do with the basketball is look good dribbling it anyway. He's not going to drive. His jumper is ugly at best. So there's really no need to be guarding him as tightly-- just get him out of rebounding position which is the only other thing he can do on offense.

If Yeng Guiao can light a fire under Norwood's ass and have him drive to the basket or at least try and make a play, then things would be much easier for his teammates. Cornley wouldn't be forced to go all the way outside and help with PG duties, Chan can be freed somewhat from his defender and the help that's sagging off Norwood and so on. Simple as that.

Also, it's becoming harder and harder to bat for Ronjay Buenafe. When will this once promising scoring machine ever get it? It's like he'll make a solid, superstar guard play one minute, then he'll be looking like someone who's never played the game the next.

Their bigs are battling, but there's only so much Belga can do down low when Cornley's being forced to go play the perimeter. Ryan Arana should maintain that mean streak of his and get Buenafe's minutes also.

As for the Llamados, they've finally learned to rise to the occasion and brush off the Elastopainters' physicality.

Yap is playing the best basketball of his life-- not just scoring but rebounding, making the extra pass and moving without the basketball. Import Marqus Blakely also seems to have found his swagger back, looking like Cornley's chew toy early in the Finals (and even the eliminations and playoffs). He's just a better wingman than Cornley and is also drawing the Elastopainters' blue collar import out of the paint by knocking down threes.

We've said this before and we'll say it again. Man for man, the Llamados have the more talented roster-- and how. The problem is, they've been playing hero ball for so long (with Yap and buddy PJ Simon at the forefront alongside Blakely) that the other guys are often reduced to spectators. The Elastopainters are unpredictable, balanced and confident. What they lack in talent, they make up for in bravado. Thus the physicality. The "no one is untouchable" and "we will beat you up" mentality.

Here's this writer's fearless forecast for tomorrow: Cornley dominates the game from inside and the Elastopainters will win their first title.