By Waylon Galvez
With an intact core, a new recruit in Stanley Pringle and a mentor that owns the record for most PBA titles, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel – and not Meralco – is the favorite going to the Governors’ Cup Finals series that starts next week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco’s Raymond Almazan, center left, and Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter battle for the jump ball as players look on during the PBA Governors’ Cup elimination round. The two teams face off in Game 1 of the Finals series on Jan. 7, Tuesday. (PBA Images)
Several of Meralco players gave their take regarding the finals showdown after Ginebra’s veteran guard LA Tenorio said they are the ‘underdogs’ since the Bolts have added three key players in veterans Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan and rookie Bong Quinto.
“Kami pa din yung underdog,” said Meralco guard Baser Amer. “Sila matagal na magkaka-sama and madaming championship. Tapos yung tatlo namin, halos bago naga-adjust pa sa sistema.”
Amer, however, said that though the three are relatively new to the team, he mentioned the hard work they have put this conference to be able to contribute as Meralco clinched a final spot for the third time in four Governors’ Cup.
Just like in the early playoff rounds, particularly in the semifinals against TNT KaTropa, the three are expected to play big in the best-of-seven finals series against Ginebra, which downed Meralco twice for title in this same conference back in 2016 and 2017.
Chris Newsome said the three provide what the Bolts lacked in previous seasons, a rebounder and shot blocker in 6-foot-9 Almazan, a shooter in Maliksi, and additional threat at the guard spot in Quinto.
“With those guys, they changed the dynamics of the team compared the last few years that allows AD (import Allen Durham) to be a little more free, not to play so much defense on the inside,” said Newsome.
“This is us having flexibility, it allows us to kind of play inside out or outside in, we can switch it up in different ways. That makes us difficult for us to guard. With what we have now, in a sense, we’re a little bit better the last two times,” added the former Rookie of the Year.
Still, for Newsome, Ginebra is the favorite.
“Stan’s a big addition for them. I definitely feel like, they can say that they’re the underdogs. But when we go out there, we all know that the crowd is always going to be behind them,” said Newsome.
“They got the championship experience, the chemistry, the coaching… everything’s there. As far as I’m concerned, I feel like we’re the underdogs ‘coz we’re down 0-2 in the finals match up against them.”
Source: Manila Bulletin
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