PBA Ph C SF: 3 Star V 7 Ginebra

Galit galit muna, parekoy
(Photo credit: philstar.com)

Finally, the marketing genius that is "Manila Classico" can finally be able to live up to its own hype.

When the term was brilliantly coined, it was driven more because of the growing popularity of the Star Hotshots (re: Purefoods) which was slowly challenging that of Barangay Ginebra's. Sure, Star always had fans, but it was more because they always had TV matinee idol-looking players who could play very well and resonated more with a specific audience. Ginebra? They're the people's team. They're the team that went from chanting "Diego" towards a heated opponent before showering him with "Pogi" when he joined them later in his career.

But they were never really rivals. Far from it. Star was winning titles left and right and was a perennial contender. Ginebra, was, well, Ginebra.

The script was flipped when Ginebra landed Star's grand slam coach Tim Cone and started putting the pieces together. They won a title in Cone's first year, they're now being taken seriously as a defensive unit. Star suffered a brief setback last season (re: the Jason Webb experiment) but appear to be back on track under new head coach Chito Victolero. So now, we can talk rivalry. Because Ginebra appears to be building towards a new dynasty to challenge San Miguel, while Star still has the grand slam core (a very young one at that) while adding famed Ginebra-killer Paul Lee.

Oh you think we're going over board with the "Ginebra Killer" tag? YouTube: Paul Lee + Ginebra.

You're welcome.


PG L.A. Tenorio V Justin Melton/ Jio Jalalon
Tenorio has proven us right in being the catalyst for Ginebra time and again. The team only goes as far as their veteran point guard takes them, primarily because he's the only guy who can create for himself and others on the fly. In this series, he will lock horns with Melton who has been starting alongside Lee but playing more of a scorer role. This will work in Tenorio's favor if only because it spares him from having to guard the bigger Lee, but it will also force him to play some defense because Melton has been stroking it well from the outside. Jalalon is also another guy to be wary of, though he is roughly about the same size as Tenorio. Though many believe that Jalalon is a mirror-image of Ginebra's Scottie Thompson, the pint-sized guard is actually more adept at running the point AND playing ball-hawking defense. Still, Tenorio seems to play bigger, better, when the stakes are at its highest. Ask Calvin Abueva and Alaska.
Adv. Ginebra

SG Sol Mercado/ Scottie Thompson V Paul Lee/ Mark Barroca
Can Sol Mercado play at a high enough level to cancel out Lee's production? Is Thompson disciplined enough to avoid getting into foul trouble and just stay in front of Barroca? Granted, Star's two best guards have difficulty playing together, but on their own they will prove to be quite a handful for Ginebra. Lee is bigger than Tenorio and Thompson, who he will combat at the point so everything will come down to Mercado. We'd love to say Mark Caguioa or Jayjay Helterbrand might have some success versus Lee, but that was mostly in the past. When Lee was carrying a lot of weight. Now the dude has legit muscle tone (check his arms) and the baby bump is no longer there which means, he's quicker on the zig-zag. It will be very interesting on how Coach Tim Cone will try to neutralize Star's guards, when their calling card is really more of packing the paint.
Adv. Star

SF Chris Ellis/ Kevin Ferrer/ Aljon Mariano V Allein Maliksi
With all due respect to Chris Ellis and his (inexplicable) legion of fans, this is a bout strictly concerning UST King Tigers. Two guys who wore the crown versus a guy who worked his ass off after college to at least be in the conversation. Ferrer, a rookie, is rapidly coming into his own and pretty much becoming Coach Tim Cone's most versatile player after of Joe DeVance on both ends. Mariano is also another solid contributor, though he might be a bit slow to stay with Maliksi and battle through screens.
Adv. Tied

PF Joe DeVance/Jervy Cruz  V Marc Pingris/ Rodney Brondial
How bad is DeVance's injury (we are still waiting for reports)? Because if it proves to be a conference or series-ender, or one that doesn't allow him to run the floor, then this match-up goes from being Ginebra's to Star's real quick. Pingris is playing like he's 25, hustling and spy. It seems as though he's discovered "life after the arm bar" when it comes to defense, which is pretty much going back to moving his feet. Wouldn't be surprised if we see more of Mariano, Cruz and even Dave Marcelo in this spot. Hell, we'd go as far as Kevin Ferrer at the 4 to help pull out Pingris from the paint and weaken Star's interior rebounding and defense.
Adv. Star (if JDV is healthy, tied)

C Japeth Aguilar V Ian Sangalang/ Rafi Reavis
We know Aguilar can fly and has been balling as of late, be we also know that Reavis is shotblocker extraordinaire and can still move his feet and jump high despite his age. Sangalang needs to be a factor in this series for Star, if only to make sure that Aguilar works on the defensive end. Unfortunately, despite being crafty in the paint, Sangalang has lost a lof of explosiveness (no thanks to his previous injury) which makes him easy pickings for the taller Aguilar. If Reavis, Pingris, Sangalang and Brondial can't bottle up Aguilar or at least keep him from crashing the boards, this one's going to be over pretty quickly.
Adv. Ginebra

X-factor:

Sol Mercado for Ginebra
Some offense to neutralize Lee, and a hell of a lot of effort and discipline on defense, also on Lee.

Ian Sangalang for Star
Needs to provide Star with an inside presence, so that the guards can do their thing from the outside.

Keys to the series:
Star
- Perimeter defense is arguably the league's best, should be a problem for Tenorio
- Also, ATTACK TENORIO. TIRE HIM OUT.
- Keep Aguilar away from the paint, rough him up
- Avoid foul trouble (bigs, Pingris)
- Keep rotating (Coach Chito loves using 12 guys at least)

Ginebra
- Tenorio needs to be fresh always, hide him on defense when possible
- Guard Paul Lee. He's Star's anchor. Barroca, Tenorio and Thompson can cancel him out. Lee is just too big and now, minus the baby fat, quick.
- Sol Mercado. Kevin Ferrer. Paolo Taha. Got to D up on Lee.
- JDV and Aguilar needs to seal their smaller counterparts early. Jervy Cruz sleeper.
- Challenge every shot. Usually you want teams to take the 3 ball... not Star. Definitely NOT Star.

Prediction: Ginebra