Game Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. – Alaska vs Rain or Shine
MANILA, Philippines – One team will be a heartbreak kid no more while the other will suffer yet another heartache as Alaska Milk and Rain or Shine, both coming off a string of PBA finals defeats, fight it out for the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown starting Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This best-of-seven title duel that can be aptly called “The Hunger Games” unwraps at 7 p.m. with Aces out to rise from the ashes of three finals debacles while the Elasto Painters hope to finally go all the way to the top after coming up short in each of their last four finals appearances.
One of them will finally bask in glory at the end of the first-ever Alaska-Rain or Shine faceoff that could well be a complete mayhem in May.
The Aces are perked up by gut-wrenching playoff triumphs versus MVP Group teams Tropang TNT and Meralco while the E-Painters are pumped up and riding the momentum of stunning conquests of highly formidable SMC squads Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer.
Key personalities from the two teams, along with league commissioner Chito Narvasa, shared light moments during the pre-finals press conference at the PBA Café in Metrowalk in Pasig City yesterday.
It’s calm before the storm – a championship that will be a virtual track meet between two teams that thrive on a running game.
“It’s gonna be a fast-paced game, up-and-down, physical. It’s gonna be exciting and fun to watch,” said Alaska import Rob Dozier.
“It’s no secret that both teams love to run. It’s going to be who’s going to make the stops,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
If there’s any side with the advantage, they said it should be the E-Painters but only in Game One since the Aces hardly had a preparation, needing to go through the full distance of a best-of-five semifinal to dispose of the Meralco Bolts.
But Rain or Shine assistant coach Caloy Garcia doesn’t believe it would be much of a factor.
“They played a tough Meralco team Wednesday, winning only in the last few minutes. That’s already a good preparation on their side,” said Garcia, the one currently running the ROS practices with coach Yeng Guiao busy with his campaign for reelection as congressman of the first district of Pampanga.
Both expressed readiness for a long haul.
“We play hard, we practice hard, and we’re allowed to be tired only after the finals,” said Compton, hopeful of their chance even with injuries to Jvee Casio, Vic Manuel and Eric Menk.
“Coach Yeng’s team is our model. We’re not built on one guy. We have a bunch of guys ready to play. It’s their turn to step up,” Compton pointed out.
Compton admits, though, they have a job cut out for them versus the E-Painters, the only team to reach the Final Four in each of the last nine conferences.
“Somebody has asked if we have the edge on playoff experience. They have nine straight semis and that’s tough. Rain or Shine is the only team to beat San Miguel in a playoff (in the last two years). They’re playing their best in years and their confidence is over the roof,” said Compton.
The E-Painters, meanwhile, are concerned with Alaska’s dreaded pressing defense.
“The two teams have the same style and are almost equal. Both like to use the bench and both benefit from the locals. We both run. The difference is they press a lot,” said Garcia.
“We have to help one another to break their press. If you bring down the ball by yourself, there’s the big risk of turning the ball over on their press. And they score a lot from that,” said Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee.
“Their defense is really good. For us, it’s about handling the ball and limiting turnovers,” said ROS rookie playmaker Maverick Ahanmisi.
Both teams have imports that complement their locals well.
Dozier is a tested import who led the Aces to their last title run in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup. Pierre Henderson-Niles, meanwhile, fills in Rain or Shine’s hole in the middle. The two know each other well, being teammates in the Derrick Rose-led Memphis team that reached the 2006 US NCAA Final Four and 2008 Final.
“They’ve found the import that they need. They’ve got the right piece in the finals. He’s the right fit for their system. He’s a cause of problem for us,” said Compton of Niles.