NBA vet says anything can happen in finals

MANILA, Philippines - Former Boston Celtics center Alton Lister said yesterday it’s difficult to pick the two teams that will eventually play in the PBA Philippine Cup finals because anything can happen in a balanced league but if pressed to choose, he’ll go with Alaska and San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra or Purefoods.

“Traditionally, the two teams that make it to the semis outright advance to the finals so that would be San Miguel Beer and Alaska but you can’t discount the chances of Ginebra and Purefoods,” said Lister who served as the Beermen’s skills coach last conference and is now a San Miguel Corp. consultant.

Breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of each PBA team, Lister said chemistry, versatility and depth are the key factors that will make the difference in the playoffs.

Lister, 51, was the Milwaukee Bucks’ first round pick in the 1981 NBA draft. The 7-foot center from Arizona State played for the Bucks, Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics in a pro career that ended in 1998. He was with the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff two seasons ago.

“Alaska’s a well-oiled machine,” he said. “They haven’t made too many lineup changes so they’ve been playing together for a while. They play a disciplined offense and good defense, too. Alaska’s hard to beat and they’re consistent. Willie Miller’s a big-time player. Their strong point is running the triangle but when that doesn’t work, they’ve got a go-to guy in Miller who can improvise.”

Lister said San Miguel’s versatility is a distinct advantage. “I think Arwind Santos is the best player this conference,” he went on. “Arwind can play multiple positions and creates a lot of mismatches. His addition has made San Miguel so much more competitive. A weakness is injuries but the good thing is when players are sidelined, others step up and contribute which means depth is a factor going for coach Siot (Tanquingcen).”

Crowd darling Ginebra is another title threat, he continued.

“I’m amazed by their never-say-die spirit and they get a major boost from the crowd which is their sixth man,” said Lister. “They’re deadliest when their backs are against the wall. Even with their two best players (Mark Caguioa and Jay-Jay Helterbrand) out, they’ve managed to stay among the top four. Coach Jong (Uichico) has done a good job of keeping the team together. They’re overachievers. J. C. Intal’s emergence is also a big plus. He’s not only very athletic but he’s also developed into a total package. He attacks the rim, puts the ball on the floor and plays tough defense. If he develops a consistent jumper, he can become a real triple threat.”

As for Purefoods, Lister said the Tender Juicy Giants are tough because they’re two-man deep in every position. “Their best players are James Yap and Kerby Raymundo but I think they’ve got the deepest lineup in the league,” said Lister. “This isn’t just a two-man team. They’ve got guys like Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi back. They’re peaking at the right time and they’ll be hard to beat in the playoffs. The positive thing about Purefoods is their chemistry.”

Talk ‘N’ Text’s offense is what Lister said makes the Tropang Texters a serious title contender. “They’ve got awesome talent,” he said. “They’re hard to figure out, unpredictable and dangerous. They can score points in a hurry and can blow you out by 20 points in a snap. They’re offensively gifted. Mac-Mac Cardona is an incredible scorer who can hit the dagger three, slash, knock in unorthodox floaters and is almost impossible to defend.”

Lister said Sta. Lucia Realty is a team in transition with a major upside. “It’s good to see Kelly Williams back, playing like he used to,” he said. “This team is scary. Coach Boyet (Fernandez) has transformed Sta. Lucia into a team that wins with defense and Ryan Reyes is playing a big role to make that happen. They lost Denok (Miranda) who was their glue and brought in rookie Josh Urbiztondo. They’re young at the point and it may take a little more time for the team to break through.”

Burger King’s unpredictability makes it difficult to scout, said Lister. “They free lance a lot and coach Yeng (Guiao) lets his players play which is why the team is very hard to read,” he added. “When they’re hot, they’re tough to stop. You don’t know which guys are going to explode and you don’t know what’s going to happen. Bringing in Alex Cabagnot and Wesley Gonzales was a positive and when Wynne (Arboleda) comes back, he’ll be a big help as a playmaker.”

Lister said Rain Or Shine has to work harder on defense but with Gabe Norwood developing into a more assertive leader and Sol Mercado maturing into a reliable scorer, the Elasto Painters are on the right track. “Gabe is now more offense-minded, goes to the hole, has an improved jumpshot and as a leader on the floor, makes the guys around him much better,” said Lister.

Regarding Coca-Cola, Lister said the Tigers will go as far as Asi Taulava takes them. “Asi was out for a while and they struggled but now that he’s back, they’re winning,” he said. “When they’re playing well, they can beat anybody in the league. They do a good job of controlling the boards and running transition. They’ve got all the elements of a winning team. If they play consistently well, they’ll be a nightmare for the other qualifiers in the playoffs.”