HAVING homecourt advantage doesn’t guarantee a victory in a championship series and Nueva Ecija coach Don Dulay knows it too well.
Dulay was basing it on experience when his previous squad, Davao Occidental lost to San Juan in their knockout duel for the MPBL championship five years ago.
“From experience, homecourt advantage is good, especially that you’re playing for the fans,” said Dulay. “But from experience, homecourt advantage doesn’t mean anything. When you go and ready to fight, the ball is round. Anything can happen, so if your team is not ready even if you have a homecourt advantage, it doesn’t matter.”
Dulay and the rest of the Nueva Ecija Capitals will try to utilize whatever advantage they can get playing in front of their home fans when they begin the best-of-five championship series on Tuesday against the visiting yet streaking Titans of Quezon at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum.
Game time of the series opener is 8 p.m. right after the match between San Juan and Binan, which square off in their Battle for Third at 6 p.m.
The titular showdown provides an interesting contrast for both teams – Nueva Ecija’s explosive firepower against the defensive-oriented Quezon squad and the Capitals’ experience against the Titans’ youth movement.
Nueva Ecija parades a bevy of ex-PBA players in Will McAloney, Rob Celiz, Jonathan Uyloan and Billy Robles among others, while fellow veteran campaigners like Eman Calo and Jay Collado provide solid support.
The team also has explosive guard Chris Bitoon, who sets the tone for the Capitals.
But facing the Titans, the hottest team in the tournament, is definitely a big test for the Capitals.
Quezon is coming off a five-game winning streak, including a sweep of Binan, the No.1 team in the elimination round, during their semifinal round encounter.
Gab Banal, one of only two players who has experience playing in the PBA, is currently sidelined by an injury so as Ximone Sandagon, the team’s athletic big man, who suffered a fractured cheek bone after receiving a wayward elbow from Binan’s Jimboy Estrada during their semis match.
But youth and energy had become the sources of strength of the Titans with former NCAA Most Valuable Player Will Gozum, Judel Fuentes, Rodel Gravera, Domark Matillano and LJ Gonzales providing them.
The Titans are ready to endure the first two games on enemy’s territory, yet Quezon coach Eric Gonzales remains a firm believer that anything can happen in a championship series.
“No guarantees naman po. Bilog ang bola. But hopefully, manalo kami,” said Gonzales.