Sporting Chance

Add Barangay Ginebra to the list of also-rans in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino Cup. The Gins joined Red Bull and Shell in the mortuary after losing a 101-78 blowout to Tanduay at the PhilSports Arena last Wednesday.

It didn't look like Ginebra had the lungs to slug it out for 48 minutes against Tanduay. Allan Caidic's boys got off to a slow start and just couldn't hold back the rampaging Gold Rum Masters.

Beating Tanduay was probably too much to expect from Ginebra, playing in its third straight pressure-packed death match. PBA stats analyst Fidel Mangonon recalled that the La Tondeña fanchise hadn't beaten Tanduay since 1987 when Billy Ray Bates scored 68 points to lead the Gins to a 128-114 decision. And Tanduay has been frighteningly unbeatable lately--it wound up the eliminations as the No. 1 club in offense, rebounding, steals, fastbreak points, and second chance points.

Ginebra came off a back-breaking 71-68 escape of Shell only last Sunday and hardly showed the intensity that led to its entry into the quarters. The Gins were badly mauled under the boards--just like in the Shell game--but the difference was, against Tanduay, they couldn't shoot straight. They were just too tired. They were outmanned and outgunned.

What could've contributed to Ginebra's lack of energy was the daunting thought of beating Tanduay twice to advance to the semis.

Ginebra's performance was in stark contrast to Sta. Lucia's in its own death match against Purefoods that same night.

The Realtors showed up with guns blazing and blew the overconfident Hot Dogs off the court behind a stifling straight-up defense and a balanced offensive attack. Purefoods just couldn't match up against Sta. Lucia. Instead of sliding Alvin Patrimonio from the No. 4 spot to No. 3, coach Derick Pumaren insisted on the Captain battling tough Dennis Espino in a faceoff. When the Hot Dogs ran a screen-roll for Alvin, guess who picked him up on the low switch--Marlou Aquino. So you can imagine how difficult life was for the Lionheart.

Because of its twice-to-beat advantage, Purefoods didn't seem too interested in putting up a fight. Its vaunted full-court press lacked fire. I felt Pumaren held back last Wednesday. He'll make his adjustments in the do-or-die showdown on Sunday.

Sta. Lucia played like it was destined to win. Despite the mental burden of trying to beat Purefoods twice in a row, the pressure isn't heavy on Sta. Lucia or at least I think so. It's a blessing that the Realtors are in fact in the quarters as they wouldn't have made it if not for the reversal of the losses to Red Bull. Besides, ending up No. 5 in the elims is already a major improvement of Sta. Lucia's cellar finish in the same conference last season.

But coach Norman Black wanted to prove a point--that Sta. Lucia deserved to play in the quarters, regardless of Red Bull's forfeits. And the Realtors didn't let him down.

Although missing the services of Rob Wainwright and Noynoy Falcasantos, Sta. Lucia didn't seem shorthanded as it strangled Purefoods, 93-68. Five Realtors notched double figures and neither Espino nor Aquino led the parade.

The moment of truth will come on Sunday. The game's a tossup. The only sure winner is Pilo Pumaren who has sons on both sides so he can't lose. Derick and Dindo are with Purefoods while Franz is Black's assistant.

Of course, the prize of victory isn't something to dream about unless you're thinking of a nightmare. The Purefoods-Sta. Lucia survivor moves on to meet Tanduay in the best-of-5 semis.

Two more quarters pairings are on tap today. San Miguel Beer takes on Mobiline in the curtain raiser and Alaska battles Pop Cola in the nightcap. San Miguel and Alaska enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage. Winners face each other in the semis.

Newly-hired Mobiline coach Louie Alas made a sensational debut last April 8--piloting the Phone Pals to a devastating 79-64 lacing of San Miguel. That avenged San Miguel's earlier win over Mobiline by an identical 15 points. Alas is still adjusting to his new job and it hasn't been easy making the transition from the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). Mobiline, in case you haven't noticed, has lost four of its last five under Alas. The good news is the average margin of defeat was only 3.3 points. The outlook is bright for the Phone Pals. Alas is building up for the future and he appears to be on the right track.

San Miguel coach Joseph Uichico is looking for payback. Losing to Mobiline by 15 had to hurt. San Miguel has dropped three of its last five so it's not exactly on a roll. The Beermen can't afford to lose focus--they shouldn't think of playing Alaska in the semis or Tanduay in the Finals just yet. The first order of battle is to beat Mobiline--nothing else must be on Uichico's mind.

Alaska won the All-Filipino title in 1996 and 1998. Based on the progression principle, it should win the crown this year, too. Tim Cone is due for another championship--Alaska didn't win a single diadem last year, the first time since 1994 the Milkmen failed to bring home the bacon, although it was the only PBA team to qualify for the semis in all three conferences.

Alaska beat Pop Cola twice in the elims, 89-71 and 81-71. Both games weren't close so you know how the odds stack up. The 800s, however, are no pushovers. With new coach Chot Reyes at the helm, Pop Cola is reliving its glory days of respectability. In tonight's contest, all eyes will be on Reyes' leader Jojo Lastimosa, formerly of Alaska. Will Jolas rise to the occasion or will his heart bleed for his old team?

Ah, the drama escalates in the PBA suspense theater.