Beermen favored

AS THE PBA Philippine Cup 2019 best-of-seven finals series was tied, 2-2, following San Miguel Beermen’s 114-98 win over Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok Wednesday, noted Davao coaches were one in saying that the former will likely romp away with the conference title.

Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) Blue Knights coach Pochollo Elegino, who also steered Mindanao-Philippines’ silver medal finish in the recently-concluded Arafura Games 2019 in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, said: “Heavy favorite ang San Miguel pero Magnolia ko. Gusto nako ilang chemistry and unselfishness. Tabangay gyud sila (SMB is the heavy favorite but I’m for Magnolia. I like their chemistry and unselfishness. They really help each other).”

Aries Bastian, who coached Davao region’s secondary girls 3x3 team to a gold medal in Palarong Pambansa 2019 hosted in Davao City, for his part, cited SMB’s vast championship experience.

“San Miguel will win the final, aside from experience in championship match, they have more veterans than their opponents plus they have strong players,” Bastian said.

Meanwhile, Isaias “Ice” Gravador, coach of Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders who won a gold medal in the 9th BIMP Eaga Friendship Games 2016 in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, said, “SMB won the past four All Filipino conferences. As long as they are not yet unseated sa throne, they are still favored to win.”

Game 5 is set Friday evening.

Magnolia’s Paul Lee, in a news posted on the PBA website, accepted that they are the underdogs in the series. But he maintained that all they wanted was a chance.

“If there’s a chance in the end, we’ll try to grab it,” Lee was quoted as saying.