Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Realtors eye clincher
MANILA—Sta. Lucia Realty needs only to win today’s Game 6 of the best-of-seven championship series to secure its second conference title and its first All-Filipino crown in the Philippine Basketball Association.
The Realtors, enjoying a 3-2 edge, and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants meet anew today in the crucial match for the 33rd Smart-PBA Philippine Cup crown at the Araneta Coliseum at 7 p.m.
But Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio seems unfazed by the situation and expressed confidence with the return of ace shooter James Yap from a one-game suspension.
“It’s just like when we were in Game 3. We are again facing a difficult task of a must-win situation. And every time we come into this scenario, the team delivers as expected,” said the 35-year-old Gregorio, who is seeking his third crown as a coach since 2003.
Also returning today is Sta. Lucia’s Joseph Yeo, who missed the Realtors’ 88-76, win last Sunday due to a one-game suspension.
The Realtors, whose only title since joining the league in 1993 was the Governors Cup in 2001, won Game 1 (109-97) and Game 2 (112-101), while the Giants, who are hoping for their eighth PBA crown and fifth All-Filipino honor since 1988 took Game 3 (118-107) and Game 4 (106-98).
“We have the momentum already and we will continue playing the same good defense. That’s our only ticket to win the title,” said the 36-year-old Boyet Fernandez, who steered the Realtors to the finals in only his second conference as a coach.
With a strong determination to end a seven-year title drought, the Realtors are favored to prevail over the Giants as even statistical records showed that 24 of 31 teams which took a 3-2 lead went on to win the championship series for a high probability rate of 77 percent. Out of the 24 teams, 14 went on to win the clincher game 6.
However, Gregorio showed twice that he is an exemption when he won over Alaska in 2003 and 2005 despite lagging, 0-2, in a best-of-seven series.
“I have been there. This situation is not new to me already. That’s why, what I can say is we have to win Game 6 and extend the series to the full distance,” said Gregorio, who is aiming to become the first Purefoods coach to win two All-Filipino championship. (FCC)
