THEIR ongoing best-of-seven championship series in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup is a long one and for protagonists Barangay Ginebra and Meralco, they’re expecting a nip-and-tuck battle all the way.
Both championship-hungry teams see a lot of similarities in each other’s game, approach and abilities that they think it will definitely be an evenly contested showdown with no clear-cut favorite.
As Game 1 starts as of this report with both the Bolts and the Gin Kings seeking to draw first blood, many expect the series to go the full length given how these two teams flaunt their brand of basketball, sending them over to this big stage.
“I think these two teams are so evenly matched,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “We play similar styles of basketball and that’s what got us this opportunity to win a championship.”
Cone went further by specifying what he was talking about.
“We’re both in the top two in assists and we’re both defensive-oriented, putting an emphasis on that side of the floor. I really think these two teams play very similarly and that’s what makes this series a toss-up and an interesting one,” he added.
Meralco coach Norman Black agreed and said that it’s now about how the series unfolds.
“We have teams both deserving of being here, who have worked their way to be here with more or less, similar approaches. Let’s see how it unfolds,” said Black.
Even PBA chairman Robert Non feels the same way and shared his sentiments as well.
“The fans will watch great games between these two teams,” he said. “I think they’re even in a lot of ways and they’ve beaten the top two teams in the semis, there’s no favorite here.”
The chairman then bravely went as far as predicting that the series will definitely go the full length.
“It will be a great series and that’s better for the PBA and the fans. I think it will got the distance,” said Non.