Two Cents: PBA Commish Cup Finals
It’s this time of basketball again where the last two best teams along with their respective imports clash for the Commish Cup Championship! The set is stage and here are the last two teams standing from the grueling eliminations and playoffs!
Major Takeaway
The Top Seed and the Best Import - yes, i’m calling it here, Terrence Jones will be the winner of the Best Import Award! He had been a perfect fit for the offense of Ka-Tropa. He had consecutive games were he scored 40+ points! Also, he doesn’t only draw attention from other team’s defense but also know how to pass that ball and make a play (Troy Rosario had been a beneficiary several times). Aside from having the Best Import, their locals have been waxing hot (shoutout to RR Pogoy and his 10, yes 10! 3-pointers). The import plus the locals equated to the Top Seed and they’ve only lost only 3 times this conference (so few that i can name it, Northport at the Elims, Alaska at the Quarters, and Ginebra at the Semis).
Seeding doesn’t matter and the Championship Pedigree - yeah right, they’re the 7th seed and even had a share of losing streaks. But guess what, it didn’t bothered the Beermen in sweeping (literally) their way to the top. There was an import change (i personally liked Charles Rhodes) but it paid off and San Miguel is now in the Finals. One thing to learn here is that a champion will always play like champion. Coach Pido already called it, even if Northport had the No. 2 seeding, they still felt that they’re the underdogs. It sure did as San Miguel was able to overcome a scrappy and motivated Northport and endure a physical and running Rain or Shine (which also happens to have a better seed and also Coach Caloy called it, they’re the underdogs and again it sure did) en route to a Finals appearance.
The Reinforcements
Terrence Jones had been incredible for TnT all conference long. He was able to bring his NBA experience and dominate the league. I mean no one is stopping him! As i’ve said earlier, he had strings of games where he scores at will but when the defense tights down, he never hesitates to pass the ball and orchestrate TnT’s offense. He is an all-around guy, he can score (uhhmm obviously), he can rebound, he can defend, he can pass, his jumper is still suspect, but yeah, he can much of everything. His very offensive presence gave the Ka-Tropa the top seed and a chance to get the Commish Cup Championship.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer Sports
Chris McCullough, another NBA Veteran, had been a spark that led San Miguel to greater heights in the playoffs, aside from their championship poise. As i’ve mentioned earlier, i still have my bias on Charles Rhodes, but the truth is, Chris had lifted SMB in a string of crucial games that helped them earned a modest seventh-seed. But really, those seeding don’t mean anything. With the also all-around help from McCullough, which also has a suspect jumper, SMB was able to dismantle teams that were seeded higher than them. And behold, setting the stage in the Finals.
Source: ABS-CBN Sports
So here are now the teams that will slug it out for the Commish Cup Championship through the help of their towering and strong reinforcements!
TnT Ka-Tropa
Head Coach: Bong Ravena
Consultant: Mark Dickel
0 Brian Heruela
4 Harvey Carey
5 Frank Golla
6 Don Trollano
10 Ryan Reyes
12 Marion Magat
13 Anthony Semerad
14 David Semerad
16 Roger Pogoy
17 Jayson Castro
18 Troy Rosario
19 Ken Bono
21 Kelly Williams
32 Jay Washington
40 John Casino
99 Yousef Taha
Don’t let the roster fool everyone. This TnT Team has, literally HAS, a lot of firepower. Their do-it-all import, the best point guard in Asia, the ever reliable and versatile Rosario, and the sweet but hot shooting Pogoy that can give any given defense a lot of trouble. Their X-Factor, Don Trollano, has been doing a lot for the Ka-Tropa, from defense, instant offense, and even the rebounding that this team sometimes lack (A powerful center is what this team needs, remember Asi? but yeah, that’s another story). The Ka-Tropa seems to have a short rotation but it does wonder as the firepower is sustained and Jones is being given all the time and space to operate. Also, you gotta give it to the coaching (sorry, on paper it’s Bong Ravena, but Mark Dickel is calling it great).
Source: SPIN.ph
The firepower of TnT will come not only from Jones but also from the GIlas Trio of Castro, Pogoy, and Rosario. The three had been amazing. They were able to provide the support that Jones needed, they also fueled a fast-paced TnT offense, and did wonders from the three-point line. Pogoy and Castro are favorites to win the BPC Award (yeah, this one is too close to call, but may be, a TnT player can indeed bag the BPC). Their offensive prowess and their Gilas experience will be helpful and a big factor to TnT’s conquest to the Championship and it has been a while since they made it to the Finals.
San Miguel Beermen
Head Coach: Leo Austria
2 Billy Mamaril
3 Von Pessumal
5 Alex Cabagnot
6 Chris Ross
7 Terrence Romeo
12 Paul Zamar
13 Marcio Lassiter
15 Junemar Fajardo
18 Louie Vigil
22 Matt Ganuelas-Rosser
26 Chico Lanete
29 Arwind Santos
30 Kelly Nabong
34 Christian Standhardinger
71 Ronald Tubid
95 Yancy De Ocampo
SMB is heavily-loaded. From their starting unit up to the second and third stringers, they can all ball and score when needed. Their local line-up is already good alone, then they were complimented by a great import. Chemistry issues, Import issue, and injuries (Marcio Lassiter) had took toll to SMB’s campaign for the conference. But just at the nick of time, they were able to salvage the conference, go to the Finals, and have a shot on winning the Commish Cup and chase the ever coveted Grand Slam.
Source: ABS-CBN Sports
This guy, this big guy now sporting a long and blonde hair, will be vital for the offense as well as defense of San Miguel. There are times when Junemar is missing and not doing much during the elims that spelled the difference. And it will again spell the difference to this Finals. On the other hand, the team will never be short of contributors. Lassiter’s injury was hard (not only for SMB but also for Gilas) but the likes of Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, and even Terrence Romeo will sure equate to a lot of scoring.
The Match-Up
TnT will always dominate as long as they keep the game out of San Miguel’s favor by running. Also, as long as nobody can cover Terrence Jones one-on-one, he will surely dominate the court and make plays. Another factor will be the outside sniping of TnT’s guards. Jones will always be doubled-up so a kick-out will be inevitable. Draining the deep-ball will spell the difference for TnT. The X-factors will also be vital. Size-wise, they can’t match fairly with SMB’s bigs, but Trollano’s and Heruela’s big plays ala-Scottie will also give TnT the needed edge against the very big frontline of SMB. TnT’s lack of a center and their short rotation may take a toll though on their match-up with SMB.
San Miguel on the other hand, will always rely to their half-court set and movements for scoring. As long as someone like C-Stan or Arwind (fingers-crossed) can cover Jones single-handledly, SMB’s defense will be in good hands. Also, big plays both from their import, the frontline, and the backline will vital in scoring against and stopping the running TnT. Rotation is also a key, if Coach Leo can just, for heaven’s sake, widen his rotation so that there will never be exhausted players.
The Verdict
This is sure, there will be a lot of games wherein they are blow-outs or the opposite that it will be a close and thrilling game. Both teams had the firepower to outscore the other. It will ultimately lie down on stops and breaks of the game.
A lot says that this will go TnT’s way. I don’t blame them, TnT has indeed the Best Import and the firepower to do so.
But for me..
San Miguel Beermen in 7
Ciao..
