PBA GC SF: (1) Alaska vs (5) STAR

The series' X-factor is in this picture,
but not who you would think
(Photo credit to Sports5.ph))

Forget Manila Classico (which celebrates the fanbases more than it does the actual two teams since performance/ championships-wise, they are simply non-equals), this is the real rivalry that has more history and bad blood to it than anything else in the last four-five years.

Ideology vs machinery. Building a team the right way in hopes of winning championships vs one that can just as easily acquire any given player to fit its needs en route to a title romp. At the end of the day, this is what it all boiled down to from the outside looking in specially for head coach Tim Cone. A new challenge, more money, job security and so on vs a franchise that has been repeatedly rumored to be up for sale since when? 2012? We've been hearing about it for two-three straight seasons now.

There is no loyalty in professional sports, only business.

STAR has the, well, starpower. Alaska has the hustle and endless amount of energy.

Something's got to give.

Alaska beat STAR in the eliminations, 92-86. Travis Romeo finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists, followed by Vic Manuel's 10 points and Cyrus Baguio's 9. Calvin Abueva played only 12 minutes due to foul trouble. They shared the basketball, played cohesively and won the game.

STAR?

Marqus Blakely had 22 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Mark Barroca with 17 points. Guys chipped in here and there, sure, but surprisingly quiet were James Yap, PJ Simon and Alex Mallari. Mallari is now enjoying a "coming out" party, looking like Jason Webb 2.0 but with more offense and quicker hands on defense. Yap? He's back to his clutch 2x PBA MVP ways, making plays when needed, and traveling (and getting away with it) on vintage fastbreak dunks just for kicks.

In a Best-of-Five series, experience will always be an advantage. Unfortunately, both teams are quite tested (STAR being the defending champs, while Alaska has been to the PBA Finals before under coach Alex Compton) so we can throw that out of the window. Grit? Alaska has tons of it, sure, but all it takes for STAR to respond as a team is one Marc Pingris energizer play and they're good to go.

So where is the advantage?

For STAR, it has to be their big guards (Mallari, Simon and Yap), and Joe DeVance.

STAR has a bigger guard rotation than Alaska, which will rely heavily on JVee Casio and RJ Jazul's offense. Mallari is 6"4 and speedy, so he can check Casio all series long. To combat this, Alaska will be forced to play big and hope that Chris Banchero continues with his stellar play. Problem is, Banchero is not quite the shooter as Casio and Jazul which makes him an easy check for STAR. Ditto with Ping Exciminiano.

Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio are there, and it's almost funny how they can mirror Yap and Simon, but with all the mileage, there are games wherein they disappear from the game plan (specially Baguio).

Marc Pingris will have his hands full against his PSBA schoolmate and one-time understudy Vic Manuel. Of the two, Manuel is the better player on offense. Stronger on defense too (thus. the "Muscleman" moniker). Pingris is the smarter player though when it comes to positioning, and just has that energy/ wild animal spirit in him that helps him overcome greater skilled opponents.

So they'll battle in somewhat of a draw.

And therein lies Alaska's advantage.

Manuel. Calvin Abueva. Eric Menk. Sonny Thoss.

Built for grit-and-grind, "ayaw mo masaktan mag chess ka na lang" basketball.

Yousef Taha? Did you just see what Manuel did to Dave Marcelo?

Mick Pennisi? He didn't want any part of Menk and Thoss before, what's changed now?

And Abueva is just going to ran amok if guys keep their eyes off him. Don't expect Abueva to have his way and throw STAR off their game like he did against Ginebra. No, STAR is familiar with him plus they have their own brand of crazy with Pingris. BUT, we have a feeling that we will get a signature Abueva game in this series at some point.

The game plan is to probably bring Alaska's bigs out. With DeVance. He's taller and craftier than Abueva, so there's the advantage. But if you ask JdV to play inside, he'll take away from Pingris and Blakely.

So it's STAR's guards and wings versus Alaska's frontline.

Which leaves us with the import match-up: Romeo vs Blakely.

Blakely has a slight advantage in speed, Romeo looks a bit stronger and more grounded game-wise. Some camps claim that Romeo is taller, but really can't tell owing to Blakely's blonde, curly mohawk. Of the two, Romeo can create his own shot on the fly while Blakely takes a bit of time setting up shop. Would probably cancel each other out.

Battle of the sidelines: as much as we love Coach Tim, you're looking at his crew of Johnny Abarrientos, Mon Jose, Jason Webb and Richard del Rosario. They will be going up against Alaska's Topex Robinson, Louie Alas, Monch Gavieres and Franco Atienza.

Just saying.

Alaska shouldn't have traded Gabby Espinas away. Could've used him for Blakely.

Noy Baclao? FTW!

X-factors: Vic Manuel (Alaska), Alex Mallari (STAR)
Prediction: Tough series, too close to call. Please don't hate me, but going with Alaska.