Sporting Chance

Alaska and Purefoods are back where they belong -- in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Finals. It's the 15th title playoff appearance for both clubs -- a rare coincidence.

The Milkmen are shooting for their 10th championship under coach Tim Cone. They've won two All-Filipino diadems so far. Since 1994, Alaska has bagged at least one jewel every year -- except last season where despite being the only team to qualify in three straight semifinals, the Uytengsu franchise wound up crownless.

Alaska's the winningest club in the '90s. No team has pocketed more titles and gone to more Finals in the last decade. In 1996, Cone joined Baby Dalupan, Tommy Manotoc, and Norman Black as the PBA's only Grand Slam coaches.

Purefoods is playing in its 10th All-Filipino Finals since entering the league in 1988. It's like Purefoods owns the All-Filipino rights. The Tender Juicy Hot Dogs are gunning for their fourth All-Filipino title but first under coach Derick Pumaren. Curiously, Purefoods has won All-Filipino plums under different coaches -- Ely Capacio in 1991, Chot Reyes in 1993, and Eric Altamirano in 1997.

Cone, 42, and Pumaren, 37, are no strangers to each other. In 1995, Pumaren piloted Sunkist to the All-Filipino and Commissioner's Cup crowns, both at Alaska's expense. And in the Governors Cup last campaign, Cone got his revenge as Alaska swept Purefoods in the best-of-five semifinals.

Both are cerebral coaches. Cone, of course, has the edge in championship experience. But don't sell Pumaren short. He's out to prove himself to Purefoods management and with brother Dindo in uniform, he's got a perfect partner on the floor.

In a boxing match, Cone would be the aggressor and Pumaren, the counterpuncher. Cone looks to create mismatches while Pumaren is the master of adjustment. When they square off mano-a-mano, expect a scientific game that is decided, more often than not, by the breaks down the stretch. That's why the All-Filipino Finals, starting today at the PhilSports Arena, promises to be a heckuva long drawn-out series.

Cone likes to dictate tempo and he's got the combinations to do it. He works a basic eight-man rotation but has the luxury of tapping two veterans -- Kevin Ramas and Jun Reyes -- in case he wants to go deeper. In the recent San Miguel series, Cone started big and ended small -- a strategy that exploited the Beermen's lack of depth. Against Purefoods, he might just do the same thing.

What makes the series more exciting is the proliferation of versatile players on both sides. Rey Evangelista, Alvin Patrimonio, Andy Seigle, and Noy Castillo play multiple positions. So do Kenneth Duremdes, Rodney Santos, Poch Juinio, and Bryan Gahol. Their coaches like to move them around to create matchup problems. Evangelista, for instance, might switch to No. 2 to faceoff against Duremdes and Patrimonio could drop to No. 3 if Purefoods plays big with Seigle at No. 4 and E.J. Feihl at No. 5. Like Evangelista is to Purefoods, Santos is Alaska's wildcard. The Slasher shifts from No. 2 to No. 1, depending on whether Johnny Abarrientos is playing, and Duremdes is also adjustable from No. 2 to No. 3. The permutations are mind-boggling.

Both teams are hungry for a title. Alaska is smarting from failing to win a title last year. Before this season started, Cone said he's targeting a Grand Slam, no less -- after all, shooting for the sky and ending up with the stars is still not bad. Cone knows what happened to the Boston Celtics when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish retired -- the dynasty collapsed and the franchise has never recovered from poor long-term planning. He's made sure Alaska won't suffer the same fate.

In case you haven't noticed, Cone has slowly brought in young players via the draft and trades and now, he's assembled a cast that has the potential to build a second dynasty for Alaska. Santos, Gahol, Don Allado, and Duremdes are Young Turks who provide a lot of youthful enthusiasm and fire.

On the other hand, Purefoods hasn't won a title since 1997. And Pumaren hasn't celebrated a championship since 1995.

Which team is favored? That's a tough call. On paper, Alaska has the advantage in the backcourt and Purefoods, the edge in the frontline. The Flying A is still the PBA's top point guard although Pumaren isn't far behind in the ratings. Their matchup is dream-like. Santos and Duremdes are explosive 2-guards who are battle-tested defenders, too. Purefoods' frontline of Captain Lionheart, the A-Train, E.J., Richard Yee, and Evangelista (if he plays No. 3) is formidable. So the challenge is for Juinio, Bong Hawkins, James Wallkvist, Allado and Gahol to step up.

Both teams like to press and trap. Both teams are comfortable playing deliberate or transition. Both teams know how to handle pressure in the clutch.

I expect the Finals to go six or seven games because Alaska and Purefoods are so evenly matched that they'll play pendulum all the way. Who'll make it to the throne? It's a toss-up. I usually pick a winner before the Finals but this time, I'm keeping quiet -- Cone and Pumaren are too good for anyone to pick one over the other.