FOUR teams remain in the chase for the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup, the most prestigious crown offered in league competition.
The Alaska Aces battle the GlobalPort Batang Pier while the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters meet the San Miguel Beermen in separate best-of-seven semifinal playoffs.
The Alaska-GlobalPort playoff will be an exciting, up-and-down contest with both teams running fastbreaks at every opportunity and raining down triples on half-court sets.
The defense-oriented Aces face the run-and-gun offense-oriented GlobalPort Batang Pier.
The Aces rely on sustained, game-long defensive intensity. They topped the elimination round and sailed automatically to the semifinals. They also like to bring in a hustling, full-court pressure unit to force turnovers which they convert to transition baskets.
GlobalPort leans on the one-on-one brilliance of Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo to break down defenses. They sent first Barako Bull and then Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to early vacations and advanced to the semifinals themselves.
It’s not just the focus on defense over offense which sets the Aces apart from the Batang Pier. The offensive philosophies of both teams are radically different as well.
Relying on the incredible dribbling skills of Romeo and Pringle, GlobalPort likes to break down defenses with their dribble penetration or shoot the net to shreds from outside with their step back jumpshots.
The Aces have equally deadly outside shooters in Dondon Hontiveros, Cyrus Baguio and RJ Jazul. Chris Banchero, Calvin Abueva and Jvee Casio have the speed and guile to penetrate into the paint and finish at the rim as well.
But the Aces rely more on motion offense, with players moving freely without the ball to free themselves, rather than trying to individually create opportunities off the dribble. Additionally the Aces like to dump the ball inside to virtually unstoppable low post threats in Sonny Thoss, Eric Menk and Vic Manuel.
GlobalPort is not just a two-man show either. They have hard-working bruisers in big men Doug Kramer, Billy Mamaril and even Jay Washington who has sacrificed his offense and focused more on defending the paint and collecting rebounds.
Additionally the Aces cannot ignore Joseph Yeo, another talented guard who can score from virtually anywhere on the court.
This semifinal battle starts Monday, Dec. 4 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters could have entered the semifinals as the No. 1 seed after the eliminations had they won their last game. But they lost. Rain Or Shine coach Yeng Guiao insists that his team was better served going through the two games in the quarterfinals.
‘’Siguro hindi pa kami ready na maka-pasok sa semis at that point kaya hindi namin nakuha agad. Ngayon nakarating rin naman kami sa semifinals and mas ready itong team namin at mas nahasa dahil sa quarterfinals,’’ said Guiao.
The Elasto Painters mentor said the team needed to take the longer path which prepared them for the bigger stage.
‘’We just weren’t prepared the first time we had the chance to go to the semis. We got to go this long route to prepare ourselves better and para makapag-isip kami. Mas ready na talaga kami ngayon,’’ said Guiao.
Rain Or Shine turned back the gritty challenge of playoffs newcomer Blackwater before hacking out an impressive victory over powerhouse Talk N Text.
‘’That (quarterfinals route) really was a blessing in disguise for us. It only toughened us going to the semis. We’re looking at things in the positive way,’’ said Guiao.
The Elasto Painters booked their eighth consecutive trip to the semifinals, the longest active streak in the league. Rain Or Shine faces a formidable challenge in a battle against the defending champion San Miguel Beer in a best-of-seven series.
An added boost for Rain Or Shine is the return of superstar Paul Lee who is set to make his return from a knee injury. Lee makes his debut in the semifinals which Guiao believes enhances Rain Or Shine’s chances againt the Beermen.
‘’We’re getting our form. Paul (Lee) will be back with us sa semis so maganda rin naman ang chance namin,’’ said Guiao.
The Beermen are no doubt the most formidable squad in the league. They not only have back-to-back Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, they also have really tall backups in Yancy De Ocampo and JayR Reyes who beat up on Fajardo during practices to prepare him for the all the hits he will get during actual games.
The Beermen have the steadiest closer in the league in point guard Alex Cabagnot and then added statistically the league’s best point guard in Brian Heruela. They also have lights out shooters in Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter and the best two-way player in the league in former MVP Arwind Santos.
The Painters and the Beermen start their semis duel on Jan. 5, Tuesday.
So which teams will prevail and go on to the finals?
GlobalPort has improved to the point that the Batang Pier are legitimate title contenders. But Alaska is too deep, too experienced and yes, too hungry. I think the Aces will prevail in five to six games.
The Rain Or Shine-San Miguel playoff is more difficult to predict. San Miguel looks like a dream team but the Elasto Painters have chemistry, are motivated like no other and seem poised to shock odds makers.
This one’s is too close to call. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Elasto Painters prevail in six or seven.