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| God Mode? Don't they know I invented "COOL?" |
Make no mistake about it, no matter how promising the players on the court are this match-up will be decided on the coaching end. It's going to be the Aces' upstart Luigi Trillo versus tried-and-tested collegiate coach Franz Pumaren for Air21. At first glance, you're already looking at a highly entertaining series with the following match-ups:
PG JVee Casio vs Mike Cortez
It's going to be the guy that was embraced and loved by the Green-and-White going up against the one that was controversially disowned/disgraced/disavowed (before time healed all the old wounds). Both guys are coming off injury concerns, but of the two, it's going to be Cortez who will prove to be more invaluable to his team rather than Casio. Though Casio is continuing to learn and excel as a PBA-level point guard, he has the luxury of having RJ Jazul and even rookie Raffy Reyes to spell him and steer the Aces' offense. Cortez on the other hand, will have no reprieve in this one and is the one true catalyst should Air21 ever hope of stealing a game. Casio needs to look for his shots to keep Cortez honest, while the latter needs to use his height and heft to the hilt and keep on attacking the rim like the Cool Cat of old.
Adv. Air21
SG Cyrus Baguio vs Wyne Arboleda
It's going to be a clash of offense versus defense: Baguio's acrobatic, high-flying finesse act versus Arboleda's gritty (sometimes gruesomely physical) approach to playing (literally) hands-on defense. We're giving the nod to Baguio and the Aces on this one, since Air21 only has the inconsistent, hero-ball, choke artist and damaged-psyche of Bonbon Custodio as their back-up scorer while there's a future Hall of Famer named Dondon Hontiveros (who proved just a few games back that he still has it) waiting for the red and black. While we're a believer in the old adage that "defense wins championships," this is just a case of better offense beating aging defense.
Adv. Alaska
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| Abueva vs Canaleta |
Can Nino Canaleta continue on his insane, almost Gary David 2012-level of play in the Quarters? We're about to find out. And this time, we doubt that the opponent will leave him open no matter the screen or picks set for the sweet-shooting, "retired" slam dunk artist. While Abueva will give up about four to five inches in height, we see the two being engaged in a very physical battle all night long (with tempers flaring at some point even). It should be interesting to see how Canaleta will be able to hold his own versus the overly-aggressive Abueva who should get a lot of iso plays called for him in this one.
Adv. Alaska (but only because Abueva can guard Canaleta, while we don't really see the former UE Red Warrior holding down "The Beast" *e kung mga import nga di kaya pigilan ung mokong e*). Plus, the Aces also have Gabby Espinas, Tony de la Cruz AND Nic Belasco to mess up Nino's juju.
PF Sonny Thoss vs Mark Isip
Although Isip has the spunk and post moves akin to the great Filipino bigs of yesteryear, Sonny Thoss is a 6"7 tour de force. Noy Baclao who?
Adv. Alaska
C Rob Dozier vs Michael Dunigan
Other then the chess match on the bench, this series will ultimately decide who gets to be called the Best Import of the Conference. Will it be the silent killer Dozier or the monstrous Dunigan? Another clash of styles here, finesse versus power. Speed and smarts versus legit strength. Tim Duncan versus Shaq. Hakeem versus Shaq. Marlou Aquino versus Asi Taulava.
Adv. Air21 one on one, but we see Alaska sending everyone from Dozier, Thoss to Eman and hell, even Paolo Bugia if need be just to keep Dunigan at bay.
KKS Verdict: Alaska
As much as we love Michael Dunigan and our boy Mike Cortez, we just don't see Air21 having enough guys to overcome the Alaska juggernaut. Not only are the Aces on a groove, but they are the obvious deeper team when it comes to playing the match-ups. To win, Cortez will need to revisit his Philippine Cup playoffs performance vs Talk 'n' Text and Canaleta needs to drop buckets. We just don't see Canaleta having a field day versus the Aces' bevy of wings or even Dunigan with all the fouls that are expected to be generously handed to him all night long to wear him out.
Rain or Shine (2) vs Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (7)
If things go according to plan, this will be the most entertaining and competitive match-up of all the Playoff matches given their styles. Both teams love the high-octane approach and do their best offensively when they're allowed to run in the open court. Of course, RoS enjoys some semblance of an advantage over Ginebra thanks to reigning PBA Rookie of the Year Paul Lee which was only helped by the injury to reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa.
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| O ano tinitingin tingin mo? Kulot! |
Things are going to get rough for arguably the league's best and most consistent point guard today. Tenorio will be giving up a lot in height and weight versus the crafty Lee, who has always shown a fondness for breaking the hearts of many Ginebra fans. While largely inconsistent this season, Lee has been the new-age Junthy Valenzuela when it comes to playing against Ginebra. And if that isn't enough a task for Tenorio, there's the wiry 6"5 Norwood that's pretty sure to keep him in check. Hell, even the Xavier boys Chris Tiu and TY Tang are going to make Tenorio bleed for points.
Adv. RoS (too many weapons)
SG Jeff Chan/ Ryan Arana vs Josh Urbiztondo/ Jayjay Helterbrand
If Caguioa's not ready, then all eyes will be on last minute acquisition Urbiztondo and how well he'll play within the Ginebra system. While Urbiztondo, Helterbrand and Chan are all threat to break games wide open, it's RoS' Arana who will be the key to this match-up and even the series. Arana plays two-way basketball, and that would pretty much expose Urbiztondo (no D) and Helterbrand (near retirement) specially if the hot-pink shoes-wearing Arana works the paint like he always does (a.k.a. Dukot King). Oh, and Jireh Ybanes is always ready to lock any bad mofo up who even dares score more than 10 points.
Adv. RoS (their guards play defense)
SF Ronnie Matias/ Larry Rodriguez vs Chris Ellis/ Mac Baracael
To win, Baracael needs to get hot- fast. Ditto with Ellis, who should look to be more assertive now that he's the small forward of the future for Ginebra following the Urbiztondo-Keith Jensen trade. Matias and Rodriguez will make it tough for their Ginebra counterparts, but they will be giving up speed and athleticism which both Ellis and Baracael have in bunches. If the Ginebra wings can hit their shots from the outside early, you're looking at a possible upset.
Adv. Ginebra
PF Beau Belga/ Jervy Cruz vs Kerby Raymundo/ Rudy Hatfield
Where's Billy Mamaril when you need him most? Yeah, injured. Hopefully, Belga, Cruz and Quinahan all go "easy" on Ginebra's warrior-like yet undersized forwards. It's one thing to be a hustler, but it's another when you're asked to box out guys who are at least twice your size (more horizontally than vertically).
Adv. RoS
C Bruno Sundov vs Vernon Macklin
If Sundov can't hit his threes, he won't be able to spread the floor for his slashers and that's going to render him useless on the floor. Macklin on the other hand, simply needs to stay on Sundov so that the towering Croatian can't set his feet for his patented Euro-threes. On offense, Macklin needs to go to work-- and go hard. We already know that Sundov gets called for a lot of fouls, so this is something that Ginebra needs to exploit.
We already know about RoS' bench and how anyone can go off at any given time. It's going to be pretty interesting how Coach Alfrancis Chua will adjust to this with his limited scorers and defenders. Though they are both running teams, RoS' is better off slowing down the tempo to get Ginebra in foul trouble and make them use their bench (which is not as confident, to say the least, as RoS'). It's going to be close, it's going to be interesting-- until Paul Lee makes the whole effin' thing his personal playground.
Mag 2 games yang RoS-Ginebra.
ReplyDelete*home cooking*