A Fitting End

Only my Pops wanted the Manila Clasico to end last Monday. Me? I want a Game 7. Game 7s are, and will always be, the best.

Game 7 will be the fitting end to this great series. Many would have wanted it this way as well. Two teams matching shot for shot. Two coaches trying to outwit themselves. Two defenses trying to shut down each other. And what a fitting end it would be in a do or die setting.

But what factors are really going to affect this game overall? What will put each of the teams over the top? A blowout will be sad. A nailbiter with no referees named Edward Aquino nearby? Sweet.

Are you guys ready for this grudge match?

For San Mig Coffee, I think these are big:

Pingris going off

Game 6, people were abuzz. Marc Pingris went off on the whole Ginebra frontline. Old-timers saw shades of a young Alvin Patrimonio lambasting hyped up veterans left and right. He made Japeth Aguilar look like the one who used to be with Talk N Text. He even waylaid Greg Slaughter during his onslaught. Jay-R Reyes didn’t stand a chance. And Billy Mamaril was added to the scalp total automatically. Ping showed off all those post footwork that old-school fans like me want to see and he just made everyone look silly. This is Hanamichi Sakuragi suddenly blossoming into an offensive force just by overpowering people inside.

For Purefoods (I really don’t want to use San Mig), it is imperative that Pingris does his share of the damage. He’s the heart and soul of this team. The energy that spews from him is contagious. He puts the POWER in Power Forward (and as my boss says, his official position is the Overpower Forward). This also lightens the load on PJ Simon and Marc Barroca to produce like madmen. If Ping types in Power Overwhelming, Japeth, Greg Slaughter and the rest of the Ginebra frontline is in for a long night.

Cone finding a way to eliminate Ellis

The Mixers’ other Mark, Barroca that is, is suddenly having problems since Chris Ellis decided to man him up. Barroca ran roughshod over smaller guys like LA Tenorio and Emman Monfort and ran rings around JJ Helterbrand. Ellis is as fast and can take the muscle Barroca throws at him. Not to mention he has long limbs to contest every drive, every jumper, that Mark Andy decides to come up with.

Sure, the Coffee King racked up 14 points, four assists and three steals the last time out, but Ellis made sure he bled for each and every one of those 14 points. Tim Cone needs to find a way to erase that cross-match completely. If PJ Simon is there, someone has to free Barroca up for a clean look at the post, where I am sure, Simon will be found. Or how about running a set that ends up with Tenorio or Monfort behind Barroca and praying that someone sends help right away else Barroca puts the gear on reverse?

Other times, I would have been okay with James Yap, who will be getting Barroca’s original man if they have Devance on the floor as well. But right now, I won’t be betting my house on 18 misses right off the kisser from Yap. Also, rookie guard Justin Melton should hit those open jumpers he’s going to get as the defense collapses on his backcourt mate.

Rafi Reavis stopping the Kendrick Perkins antics

Blame it on me for watching too much Shaqtin A Fool. But in my eyes, Rafi Reavis has been watching too much tape of Kendrick Perkins doing what Kendrick Perkins SHOULD NOT EVER DO. I mean, it’s crazy, Reavis hoisting up 15-footers (you were open on that shot for a reason), asking for the ball at the top of the 3-point arc (you were funneled there for a reason!), and trying to play Tragic Bronson (which you were forced to do for a reason).

Reavis should stick to boxing out, putting up those arms, and locking up Slaughter in a way that when he fouls, he makes sure the big guy doesn’t get a chance to throw it up (that big and-1 play at the end of the game). He’ll score eventually but that will be on tap-tap battles and garbage points. Don’t fall for the trap Ginebra has laid out for you: they’re making you the most available option on offense. An easy Kareem Abdul Ja-FALL. Why not take your time, assess the situation and kick out on someone curling from a Sakuragi pick at the top of the key? There’s no need to take those ugly looking hook shots that hit nothing but the board, man. Play smart!

For Ginebra, I recommend:

Continue feeding Greg Slaughter

You have a big guy against a rail-thin sampayan, what do you do?

Ato Agustin can’t seem to figure that one out.

Or that’s just me. But hey, when LA started dumping that ball to Slaughter down low, things started to happen. Yes, Slaughter can’t still take on a Marc Pingris, especially when the said player is in beast mode, but against Reavis or Ian Sangalang? Dump it boy. Dump it to the big fella all day!

Slaughter finished a double-double job and Ginebra fans went home happy. Actually, they’re breathing sighs of relief since their top overall pick is no EJ Feihl. Slaughter knows how to utilize his height and throw his own weight around. The sad part here is his coach can’t recognize that. I don’t see any point why you shouldn’t feed Slaughter more especially since it can be your last game.

Unleash Japeth

Here’s where you can see Ato’s inexperience as a coach.

He can’t counter Tim Cone’s defensive scheme that has shackled Aguilar to the ground since Game 1. There’s no set wherein Aguilar can break free of Pingris’ death stare and it has made the forward’s scoring average from almost 20 a night to barely 10 a night. The drop is so drastic that you might be thinking Japeth is regressing to his old tentative self.

He actually is not (well, not those times he lost track of Ping last Monday). He just can’t get away from Pingris. Maybe a ploy that will make Ping suddenly switch on Slaughter and give Japeth an easy assignment of beating Reavis might work to get his mojo back. Also, try harder on defense. Weak side blocks are great, but onside blocks are better, and more rewarding if kept in play.

Live and die with LA

As much as Mark Caguioa gives Ginebra that fire and fury, LA Tenorio is Ginebra’s barometer. El Tiniente with the Pilita Corales layup will always be the man to run this team to victory.

His Game 6 response was fitting for an MVP bouncing back from a late game boo boo. There’s really nothing left to be said about his play as it was hitting the shot at the right moment that gave the Gin Kings the necessary push. A Slaughter-Tenorio Pick N Roll is devastating as they can get and this guy can read those.

It’s showtime MVP. Yes, you are the MVP. Time to justify that you were indeed deserving of that trophy and not some chump who kicks backboards. Time to be a legend.

Game 7 would probably be dull without the fireworks, especially if the zebras decide to hold an Iron Chef competition. By all means, please stay out of the way from the game. Let the players decide who wins and who goes fishing. This is where legends are born and made.

Edward Aquino, do us a favor then. Stay out.

Send your letters of complaint, protest and blind hate @PioVGarcia.