PBA KO Phase 2 Predictions: SMB Bracket

Ellis will need to elevate his game
to battle the Texters' wings
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Just as most pundits called it, the higher seeded teams in the "SMB bracket" made quick work of the alleged PBA "farm teams" with the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters blowing Barako Bull Energy Cola off the face of the earth and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel being able to weather a Terrence Romeo storm in the 1st quarter en route to a Friday night massacre.

In the second phase of the Knockout Quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup, Texters' head coach Jong Uichico finds himself trying to overcome ghosts of Christmas past with his old team Ginebra standing in his way to facing yet another old team of his, San Miguel, should he wish to take his team to the PBA Finals. For Ginebra, it's going to be an acid test for head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and co. as they are still trying to learn the Triangle Offense on the fly while providing increased minutes for their younger players.

4 Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters vs 5 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
If you're a Ginebra fan, you should be warned that this knockout match could end up as a mismatch on the floor. Not because your team enjoys an obvious height advantage, but because the team on the other side of the court has loads of experience-- hell, even rookies Kevin Alas and Matt Ganuelas Rosser play at a very mature level owing to their Gilas experience.



Should Ginebra engage the Texters in a running match?

They have the tools for it, but that would mean having to play small ball (four guards and one big) which falls right into the Texters' strengths.

Should Ginebra set up shop and go for a grind it out game and bore half the nation to sleep?

The Texters can play deliberate half court basketball, and this would mean that Ginebra has to execute the Triangle and fight the urge of trying to break the game wide open with isolation, hero ball plays (which is easier said than done).  Plus, though they have the height advantage, the Texters' frontline know how to defend the post better than any frontline combination in the entire PBA (RDO, J-Wash, Carey, Williams, some Seigle, some Rob Reyes).

PG Jayson Castro/ Jimmy Alapag vs L.A. Tenorio
It's going to be a nice, feel good Gilas backcourt reunion out there with Tenorio trying his very best to keep in step with both Castro and Alapag. Castro has the power to tire Tenorio out, and Alapag always seems to come in on just the right time to finish opponents off with backbreaking long balls. Tenorio's going to need a lot of help on this one, and we're happy that Coach Cariaso dusted off Eman Monfort in the GlobalPort game to get his confidence up.

SG Ryan Reyes/ Kevin Alas vs Mark Caguioa/ Joseph Yeo 
As good as Caguioa is or was, Reyes is just as solid as a stopper with a deadly corner three that keeps his defenders on their toes at all times down the floor. Yeo has slowly come to his own in the Ginebra offense, even outplaying the former PBA MVP at times. Problem is, both players seem to have a hard time finding a rhythm right away which, against a team like the Texters, could provide too costly.

SF Larry Fonacier/ Matt Ganuelas Rosser vs Mac Baracael/ Chris Ellis 
Where is Larry? He's there, but ever since he pulled his name out of the Spain-bound Gilas selection, he hasn't looked like the same Larry Fonacier that we've come to know and love. Fortunately for the Texters, they found an ultra athletic, bigger version in MGR who would be an easy PBA Rookie of the Year choice had there been no Stanley Pringle around.  Baracael and Ellis will have their hands full against the bigger MGR who can play both inside and outside with relative ease. Truth be told, MGR is like a quicker, more offensively gifted and perimeter oriented, young Jay Washington. Ellis will need to step up big for Ginebra on this one and limit Rosser.

PF Ranidel de Ocampo vs Japeth Aguilar/ Rodney Brondial
Aguilar will get his customary highlight dunk and block. He will also get schooled by the PBA's one and only Dalubhasa. It's not even fair. Danny Seigle will get his shot blocked because of how low he jumps, but if his guy is napping, he'll also drop 10 points easy off the bench.

C Jay Washington/ Harvey Carey vs Greg Slaughter
The one position where Ginebra enjoys an obvious advantage-- all 7"0 of him at that. Slaughter cannot afford to take this game lightly or just wait his turn on offense. He's the biggest guy out there, and all that he really needs to do is get in the proper positioning down low and wait for 1) the ball to come in or 2) the referees to call a foul. Carey is a brute, but he's also about 6"4 at best. Washington is there, but his defense has never been his best attribute even at an athletic 6"8. Slaughter need not get 20 points and 12 rebounds in this one, but just be enough of a presence that he commands double teams to free up his teammates.

Key to the game: Experience and maturity.
Prediction: The Texters are marching on back to the Semifinals to try and bring down another former Uichico team in the San Miguel Beermen.