Wednesday, August 06, 2008 Even field for Kings, Air21
Games today
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:50 p.m. – Magnolia vs. Red Bull
7:20 p.m. - Air 21 vs. Ginebra
MANILA - Air21, one of only two teams without a crown, will be meeting Barangay Ginebra, one of the most experience team in the league.
But neither the Kings nor the Express enjoy psychological edge when they face each other today in the first game of the best-of-seven championship series of the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Both teams will be facing in the finals for the first time. The only occasion they battled each other was for third place, which the Express won, 108-98, during 2005-06 Fiesta Conference for their highest finish ever in a regular conference.
In this conference, both are 1-1, but the Kings were the only team the Express have never beaten in the 2007 season and in their 27 meetings since 2002, the Kings won 16 times but lost 11.
Championship
The Express finally made it to the title series in their 6th seasons and 15th conferences in the league after making it to the semis outrightly for the first time and first time to finish the elimination at No. 1.
Even Air21 import Steven Thomas also said he has yet to win a championship for the first time anywhere in the world.
Coach Bo Perasol, who took over the Express in the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference, is one of only three coaches among the active ones without a title, the other two are Coca-Cola’s Binky Favis and Welcoat’s Caloy Garcia.
“Right now, we are just working on the necessary things in order to beat Ginebra, although it is a tall order. But we are here already so I’m sure we can beat them,” said Perasol.
“Dyan na papasok yung pagiging inexperience ko kasi hindi ko malalaman kung paano ko ige-gauge yung Ginebra (This is when my inexperience will come in, I don’t
know how to gauge Ginebra),” said Perasol.
For coach Jong Uichico’s Kings, they are in the finals for the 17th time and 9th in an import-laden conference.
Titles
Ginebra’s 7 championship titles came from Uichico with one (2006 Philippine Cup), Siot Tanquincen with two (2004 Philippine Cup and 2004 Fiesta Conference) and four from Robert Jaworski (1997 Commissioners Cup, 1991 First Conference, 1988 All-Filipino, 1986 Open Conference).
Aside from taking the first match of the long series, Ginebra is also aiming to stretch its winning streak to 13, it’s all-time longest in franchise history since entering the league in 1979.
As a coach, Uichico clinched his 11th PBA Finals appearance and is eyeing for his 8th title including 6 with the Beermen with whom he started in 1999.
“I don’t see any advantage or disadvantage when it comes to short series and long series. For us, we will try to come in every game and win the championship. Whatever it takes. Seven games, six games, four games, five games. We will try to limit the scoring and rebounding of Steven Thomas as well as the other local players,” said Uichico. (Frank Calapre)
