PBA Commish Cup semis: Alaska vs San Mig Coffee

P*tangina banggaan to!

Trust that you've read our "emo" piece on the Alaska Aces and the San Mig Coffee Mixers going into their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals match-up. Now, we're breaking down the match-ups and as always, going out on a limb to test our credibility (what?) and pick a winner.

PG JVee Casio/ RJ Jazul vs  Mark Barroca/ Joe DeVance
We've seen JDV being given the freedom by Mixers coach Tim Cone to run the point as an out-of-this-country sized point guard lately, and we are banking on even more ball-time for JDV. Casio and Jazul, though great offensively, are not as established defensively as Meralco's Chris Ross which allows JDV to dribble whenever and wherever he wants. This is going to be a problem for the Aces because JDV will undoubtedly set up shop down low and pretty much punish his pint-sized counterparts. If you're holding out for a Casio vs Barroca showdown, they'll cancel each other out. And as far as we've known Cone, he's not the type who's content with guys canceling one another. He wants the advantage-- and his name is JDV.
Adv. Mixers


SG Cyrus Baguio/ Dondon Hontiveros vs PJ Simon/ Alex Mallari
Before fangirls crucify us for this, we don't expect Mallari to run roughshod over Baguio. Yes, they're built alike, but Baguio has even quicker hands which helps him defensively. Compared to Ronjay Buenafe, Sunday Salvacion and even Mark Cardona, Baguio can play two-way basketball (the upside of him being benched early in his career with Red Bull under Yeng Guiao) and keep up with the Playoffs' biggest surprise in Mallari. Simon will have his touches now that he has earned the "mantle" from buddy James Yap, but Baguio and Hontiveros are both streaky and could always drop 25 to 30 points combined in a series.
Adv. Aces

SF Calvin Abueva vs James Yap/ Leo Najorda
If Yap's back is willing, then this should be fun. If Yap gets the calls, Abueva and the Aces will be in for a long night. If the referees allows them to play, then expect Abueva to go hard on Yap and just keep brutalizing him on offense to the point of submission. Najorda will need to step up in this one if Yap isn't ready to go hard against The Beast. That, or Pingris slides down (but this would open things up for Thoss down low).
Adv. DST (depende sa tawag)

PF Sonny Thoss/ Gabby Espinas vs Marc Pingris
Pingris will hold his own against anyone. ANYONE. That's how good he is. That's how great the man is. But we fear that he'll have to slide down to try and "disrupt" the Aces' flow by guarding energetic counterpart Abueva. If that happens, it's going to be tough for the Mixers to keep Thoss out of the paint. They can bring in Yancy de Ocampo, but the veteran has been on a bit of a decline after an impressive showing in the Philippine Cup for some reason. Then again, Pingris did guard Mark Cardona AND Eric Dawson AT THE SAME TIME in the Playoffs so... just another day in the life of a legendary defender.
Adv. Mixers

C Robert Dozier vs Denzel Bowles
We love Dozier's style, but Bowles is beefier and more polished. We see a cross-match coming, with the Aces putting anyone and everyone BUT Dozier on Bowles for the first three quarters. Baka nga ipagpag pa ni Luigi Trillo si Sam Eman e.
Adv. Mixers

We're going with the Aces on this one. It's time.