ARIS, my cousin who is also my uncle, finally got to enjoy the few cold ones we wagered on the first time Kevin Durant took the Golden State Warriors to the NBA dreamland.

It came two years too late but we got to enjoy it with another cousin Arnold while discussing the prospect of yet another NBA finals involving the team everyone loves to hate unless you’re a GSW fan. Of course, I’m rooting for Toronto, not only because I want to see a new champion but anything related to Canada these days seems to rile up that Sleepy Old Man with a Dirty Mind.

I guess I now finally feel how an old college buddy of mine felt when he rooted for any team that faced Michael Jordan’s Bulls in the 90s.

“I don’t like the Bulls, especially Jordan,” he told me. I always felt he was a lonely soul in those NBA finals, especially in Jordan-manic Philippines.

The Warriors though have a strong following and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’d root for the Raptors too. Perhaps another cousin, Chad, who flew back to Canada recently, will be fist-bumping with me should that impossible happen.

“Warriors gyapon ko,” Aris told me and so far, like Manong Arnold said, no one seems to be crazy enough to put their money against the Warriors.

“Walay muskol,” is probably a gambling man’s favorite refrain these days. Just google hate and Kevin Durant and you’ll get a lot of hits. Derided for joining the team that eliminated the Oklahoma Thunder, Kevin Durant is expected to laugh his way into another NBA title.

Unless of course the Toronto Raptors conjure some miracle in the court (and we find intelligent life in Mars next month or some decency in a certain government office).

All of those scenarios won’t happen of course but still, I’ll be rooting for the Raptors. Who doesn’t love an underdog story, ey? And if you’re rooting for the Raptors, go grab a couple of bottles from your favorite sports bar and tell the waiter Mike Who will take care of it.

“Mike Who?”

“Yep, that’s the guy!”

It’s a lame joke, just as lame as Toronto’s chance in the finals.

Seriously though, if you have some thoughts you want to share about the impending Golden State Warriors coronation, or about other things beyond that like the juicy Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis partnership in New Orleans after the NBA draft, send us your thoughts at sports@sunstar.com.ph.