The last time Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel faced in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association last season, the Gin Kings got manhandled.
This time around, Ginebra coach Tim Cone is optimistic of a different result.
“San Miguel is always difficult to go up against, but I believe we may have the best chance in the league as we match-up well against them,” said Cone. “They got us the last time, we’re looking to get them this time.”
The last time they met in a finale was just last season, wherein the Beermen lopsidedly took the 2017 Philippine Cup Finals, 4-1, to claim their third straight All-Filipino Cup plum at that time.
As Ginebra and San Miguel Beer look forward to an epic best-of-seven 2018 Commissioner’s Cup Finals ahead, Cone and his Gin Kings are relishing another trip to the finals at the moment.
“We’re just so happy to be back in the finals to play San Miguel, especially after our rocky start,” said Cone, whose squad had to endure a 1-5 start in the conference before finding its mark to get to the finals.
“There was a point wherein out mindset was to basically win every game to survive and here we are, on our way to the finals,” Cone said.
Joe Devance echoed his long-time mentor’s sentiments.
“It wasn’t easy but we’re here in the finals. We’ll put our best effort to have the result we want. We’re so blessed to be here,” said Devance.
The Beermen and the Kings are the league’s best two teams at least in the last four years, and they could really figure in a fight for the ages.
Theirs is a championship duel rich in subplots and replete in side battles.
“It’s San Miguel versus Ginebra, As usual matinding laban ‘yan. I won’t be surprised if it goes down to a Game Seven. It’s a great finals for sure,” said San Miguel Beer governor Robert Non.
“Dalawang SMC teams yan pero parehong palaban yan. Ang hinihingi namin sa kanila ibigay ang lahat for the fans,” said Alfrancis Chua, sports director of San Miguel Corp. and governor of the Ginebra ball club.
On one side is the SMB team which has been six-of-six in the finals in the last 10 conferences and on course for a possible grand slam, and on the other side is the Ginebra team which is the reigning back-to-back Governors’ Cup champ.
Both overcame a scrambling start in the midseason tourney to arrange a rematch of their 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup title duel.
The Kings are now in full force and reinforced by two-time champion Justin Brownlee as they challenge the Beermen’s reign.
Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter and SMB’s June Mar Fajardo are facing in each other for the first time in the pros, rekindling their rivalry in their college days in Cebu.
Brownlee, meanwhile, is pitted against Renaldo Balkman in a curious duel between two players who fought side by side in their title run with Alab Pilipinas in the ABL.
There’s Christian Standhardinger who’s chasing a PBA crown right in his first PBA tournament. There’s also Mark Caguioa who’s looking for a golden run while also in chase of the 10,000-point milestone.
“Two great teams. Great matchup. Two best imports. Greg and June Mar finally meeting in PBA finals. This is really a very exciting series,” said SMB team manager Gee Abanilla.