PBA GC QF 4 Meralco vs 5 Mahindra

Don’t be surprised if this match-up will largely go under-the-radar, basketball hype-wise, considering the styles of both teams involved.

The Meralco Bolts, though they have athletic wonders Chris Newsome (32mpg/13ppg/4rpg/4apg) and Cliff Hodge (32/12/7/2), mostly rely on their blue collar approach on the defensive end while the Mahindra Enforcers, still cannot (and most likely will not) shake the shadow cast by their “head coach” Manny Pacquiao.

Still, this should be a fun and exciting match-up if you consider how Enforcers’ point guard L.A. Revilla (30/9/4/5) will be pitted against veteran Jimmy Alapag (27/9/3/6). In wrestling parlance, if TNT Katropa’s Jayson Castro is the current gold standard, Triple H, then Alapag would be Ric Flair. Batista (the next-in-line) would be a toss-up between Ginebra’s L.A. Tenorio and San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot while Revilla would be the wide-eyed, snot-nosed kid Randy Orton.

*High-fives to all of our sports-entertainment brethren*

Back to the game/s. Revilla has done a masterful job in setting the table for all of his teammates specially lengthy shooters Nino Canaleta (25/13/3/1) and Aldrech Ramos (26/13/5/1). He has been so good and technically sound on the court that it allows import James White (39/25/13/1) to focus within the perimeter, knowing that if he ever gets trapped all he needs to do is find Revilla who will then reset the offense.

Can Alapag keep the young Enforcer in check? This should be interesting, since Revilla has a knack for finding cracks in the defense while also making full use of his teammates’ pocket screens and picks.

PG Jimmy Alapag vs L.A. Revilla
As good as Revilla has been all season for the Enforcers, he will not be really going against an “old” Alapag in the Playoffs. No, he’ll also see a lot of Baser Amer—a guy who is itching to play and prove his worth (how good a lead point guard in the PBA would Amer be had he been with Mahindra or Blackwater?) while also a little of Anjo Caram and pesky Jon Uyloan. Revilla can and will probably go for his usual numbers, but nothing that Alapag and Amer can’t neutralize.
Adv.  Tied

SG Chris Newsome vs Paolo Taha
We have been amazed at how Taha has looked with Mahindra. He’s making heady plays, he doesn’t really go outside his comfort zone and he pretty much knows that he’s on the floor to play defense-first. Still, Newsome is a sleeper pick for this season’s Rookie of the Year plum which means Taha will have his hands full. Heck, he might even get dunked on if he’s not too careful.
Adv. Meralco

SF Jared Dillinger vs Nino Canaleta
Canaleta is coming off surgery and might not be in the best of condition to go mano-a-mano with the “Daredevil” Dillinger. This is a one-sided match-up at this point, since Dillinger has been balling as of late and should prove to be a bit too agile (read: maligalig) out in the perimeter for Canaleta who is more of a post-defender by trade.
Adv. Meralco

PF Cliff Hodge vs Aldrech Ramos
Yes, Ramos is timid. Yes, he does look a bit soft. But the kid has a good feel for the game and is automatic from mid-range. Hodge will give him problems, but Ramos’ confidence has been through the roof after his Gilas call-up and two seasons’ worth of playing alongside Revilla. To be quite honest, Ramos needs to send Revilla a nice care package for making him look nice on offense.
Adv. Mahindra

C Allen Durnham vs James White
Durnham will score on White, command double-teams and alter the way the game is played. What he will have a problem with is trying to out-rebound the more mobile Mahindra reinforcement and chase him around the court.
Adv. Meralco
Though we are happy for the Enforcers’ recent success, we feel that they still might be a few pieces away from truly being a Playoff threat—specially against an experienced team like the Bolts.


X-Factor: Jared Dillinger
Prediction: Meralco