Purefoods team of destiny?

Can't blame the Purefoods Hotdogs in believing they are destined to win the PBA All-Filipino crown. But neither Alaska Milkmen can be faulted if they feel to have found the easy road to the championship after the Hotdogs disposed of the tough Tanduay Rhum Masters.

With elimination-round topnotchers Tanduay Rhum and San Miguel Beer sidelined after the semifinals playoffs, Alaska and Purefoods have found themselves up against each other in an improbable matchup in the All-Filipino Cup best-of-seven titular series.

Pitted in the finals for the first time in three years, the Milkmen and the Hotdogs start their showdown at 7:30 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.

Many observers expect the match to turn to be a big mismatch in favor of Alaska, considering the Milkmen's vast experience, deeper bench and much better showing in the run-up to the finals.

But don't tell that to Purefoods.

Following a series of events that had Purefoods getting another lease on life and a miraculous game that had the team eventually ousting Tanduay Wednesday, the Hotdogs now firmly believe the All-Filipino crown is theirs for the taking.

"Yes, I think we're destined to win the championship. We had been out of it all but we're given a chance to redeem ourselves," said Purefoods ace Alvin Patrimonio moments after they delivered the killer blow on Tanduay at the Araneta Coliseum.

Not far away from the Big Dome, the Alaska gang was holed up in a restaurant celebrating the 27th birthday of Rodney Santos. They watched the last minutes of the game on TV and enjoyed what they saw.

"Tingin namin talaga mas madaling kalaban ang Purefoods kasi lamang kami sa matchup sa kanila," said Kenneth Duremdes, a leading candidate for the Best Player of the Conference honors who is expected to play a key role in the finals.

Man-for-man, it really looks like Alaska has a big edge over Purefoods, specially at the off-guard spot where Duremdes could pose a big trouble against Noy Castillo.

The Hotdogs may also have a tough time looking for answers on what the Milkmen can get from reserve crew Rodney Santos, Don Allado and Bryan Gahol.

A power in the All-Filipino Conference in the not-so-distant past, Purefoods is now considered just a seven-man deep team with Pumaren relying mainly on Patrimonio, Castillo, Dindo Pumaren, Rey Evangelista, EJ Feihl and Boyet Fernandez.

The two teams have met only once so far in the tournament with the Milkmen fashioning out a 21-point blowout of the Hotdogs.

In the eliminations, Alaska averaged 78.8 points, 45.3 rebounds, 20.7 assists, 7.2 steals, 3.5 blocks compared to Purefoods' 75.6 points, 43.2 rebounds, 18.6 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.1 blocks.

"They finished stronger in the elims and beat us badly in our previous tiff, but we're starting from scratch so I'm not worrying," said Pumaren, who is looking forward to steer the Hotdogs to a fourth All-Filipino crown and sixth in all since joining the league in 1988.