PBA GC Finals: (1) Alaska vs (2) San Miguel

Will the Muscle Man
be as effective vs SMB?
(Photo credit: Sports5.Ph)

This is starting to become more than just a rivalry between two stellar Cabalen basketball prodigies.

Welcome to the PBA Governor's Cup Best-of-Seven Finals between the conference's number one ranked Alaska Aces and their Philippine Cup Finals nemesis and champion, second-seeded San Miguel Beermen.

It wasn't a walk in the park then for the Beermen en route to the title, we don't see it being any different now in the season-ending championship series.

This series goes beyond Calvin Abueva and Arwind Santos fighting for the title of Pampanga's Best.


On one side, the Aces have come this far behind a true blueprint of what a basketball team should be: selfless, some stars here and there, but just guys who are committed not just to win, but to play on a consistent level with pride and integrity at all times. The Aces' "moral code" if you will, is something Abueva bought into really quick. It's something that's been there before Coach Alex Compton took over. It's there not because of Tim Cone, as most would want to think, but because of the man behind the scenes- Mr. Wilfred Uytengsu.

So win or lose, Alaska almost always "milks" the very best out of their players.

The Beermen?

By reputation, they are a spoiled bunch. Bonafide, ready-made superstars. It's their culture. It's the Beermen's way. The stars are either made available to them via draft or trade. They don't need to build and wait long term, no. They can always get whoever they want, whenever they want. Sometimes, it doesn't work to their advantage. Sometimes, guys coast and go through the motions because they're "set."

This year, the Beermen made a conscious effort to unload several names on last year's roster if only to balance the talent out. So roles could be given. So guys would accept it. They took in a "Father figure" in coach Leo Austria, to reach through some of their apathetic stars. It worked yes, so much that they were able to win a title his first conference in.

So this, in essence, is the hard-working everyday man "Blue Collar" vs the God-gifted, blessed "Hollywood" star that doesn't always put out Academy Award winning performances in every single movie but when he does, well, damn.

It is best captured in the names we mentioned earlier.

Arwind Santos: a physical freak of nature. 6"4 and sexy. Lean yet strong. Quick on his feet. Can shoot. Makes the game look effortless and easy. Finesse on most days. Focus? Only when threatened.

San Miguel.

Calvin Abueva. 6"1. Is no bigger or taller than his point guard Chris Banchero. But what he lacks in gifts of athleticism and height, he makes up for with effort. Relentless, crazy, maniacal effort.

Alaska.

Match-up wise, the Aces have the advantage as a team when it comes to depth. Beermen have the starpower, and we could all expect their core guys to play big minutes.

PG: JVee Casio, RJ Jazul, Chris Banchero, Ping Exciminiano vs Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross
Ping can stay on Alex like Ross can stay on JVee. But the key guy here, is GWAPO Banchero. Tall, strong, has handles and can drive against Cabagnot AND Ross. Limited range is a concern, but is a sleeper of an X-factor for sure.

Adv. SMB

SG: Cyrus Baguio/ Dondon Hontiveros vs Marcio Lassiter/ Ronald Tubid
Lassiter has been playing like crazy lately while Tubid has rediscovered his old crazy and lovable self. This is a lot better than what the Aces have to offer, since Baguio has been very bland as of late while Hontiveros has been playing true to his age and only works best maybe in the 4th quarter in close games. Still, in a long series (which we expect this to be), we're not going to count out the Baguio-Hontiveros combo specially since DH theoretically should be able to keep in step with his mirror image, Lassiter. Now if only Chris Lutz could join the party, we'd give the advantage over to SMB.
Adv. Tied

SF: Romeo Travis/ Rome dela Rosa vs AZ Reid
Hate to say it, but the RoS series showed Reid as being... old. His defense is not there, the old hustle seems to be only showing in flashes-- and that's when he's going up against locals and not imports even! Travis on the other hand is a quiet and smooth operator who has a great mid-range, "Titos of the playground" game. Oh, and he can play defense too. Look for Dela Rosa to be switched somewhere, most likely to use his young legs to help stop Lassiter.
Adv. AA

PF: Vic Manuel/ Calvin Abueva vs Arwind Santos/ Gabby Espinas
Eto yun. Eto yung match-up na inaabangan ng lahat. Kahit na anong tamad o Marlou Aquino-esque nitong si Arwind, basta si Abueva naharap sa kanya, bumabalik siya sa pagka Ligang Labas niya. Umaangas. Yumayabang. Engaged. Focused. Mawawala si Manuel sa series na ito, kasi kaya ni Arwind tumapat sa post player lalo na kung kasing laki niya lang (bigay mo siguro sa practice nila noong FEU pa siya kontra Mark Isip, na halos Vic Manuel lang din ang laro). Abueva yan. Abueva vs Santos, at yung kumpare nila na si The Prototype Espinas. Bibigyan kaya ni Gabby si Abueva? Ang nakikita ko lang bentahe ng Alaska at ni Abueva dito, si Santos at Espinas maaring di mababad ng husto kung si Reid ang mag 4. Pwede din, pero ang hirap i cancel out nung Abueva. Tsaka mabalik tayo kay Manuel, kung kontra Espinas makaka puntos yan. Kahit kontra Reid, makakapuntos din yan. Pag di nabantayan ng husto, gaya nung sa STAR series, puputok yan sa ilalim makikigulo.
Adv. AA

C: Sonny Thoss/ Noy Baclao/ Samigue Eman/ Eric Menk vs Junemar Fajardo/ JayR Reyes
The Best Center in the PBA versus the former title holder. Right? You still remember when Thoss was legitimately considered as the best at the Center position that 1-2 years (plus Gilas exposure)? Here's the thing, JMF has the obvious advantage. But Thoss will make him work for sure. The problem for SMB is, as shown in the RoS series, what happens if the Aces -- with Abueva leading the charge, attack the paint and collect fouls from the Cebuano giant? Oh, and don't forget Eric Menk. And that Baclao mid range game that was on point just the other night. Oh, and Eman. Can't forget Eman.
Adv. SMB... only if JMF can stay on the floor

This is going to be a good one. A close one. The match-up, on paper, seems a bit unfair. But because the Aces work their tails off so much, it's hard to count them out. The thing going for SMB is, it seems that when they are poked, prodded and coaxed out of their slumber, they rise to the occasion and play true to form-- which is what happened in the Philippine Cup. The Aces kept pushing and shoving, and the Beermen (led by Santos) basically decided to go to work.

It was close. And the Aces could've won it save for that Santos big balls trey and what followed next. But now, Santos will have Abueva all to himself. Alaska is one of the teams in the PBA that doesn't really need to double Fajardo, so they can stick to their assignments with ease. Travis and Reid should cancel each other out, so that guards will have to carry both teams through.

Prediction: Alaska. Game 6 or 7.

X-factors: Banchero, Manuel (Aces), Espinas, Tubid (Beermen)

Fantasy scenario mid-series, after an Espinas hard foul on Abueva
Abueva: Tangina mo bro a! Ano yun?!
Espinas: Trabaho lang bro.
Abueva: Wag kang makadalaw dalaw samin, bro.
Espinas: #WalangForever, bro.