PBA everyday in semis

Starting tomorrow, fans will get a daily dose of PBA games up to the end of the semifinals. It’ll be a game a day with Globalport and Alaska leading off to open their best-of-seven series at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena tomorrow. Then, it will be San Miguel Beer and Rain Or Shine starting their own best-of-seven tie also at the MOA Arena on Tuesday.

Game 2 of the Alaska-Globalport duel swings over to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday and Game 2 of the San Miguel-Rain Or Shine battle will also be at the Big Dome on Thursday. Action returns to the MOA Arena for Game 3 of the Alaska-Globalport series then it will be an alternating schedule with the San Miguel-Rain Or Shine tussle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum starting Saturday. The PBA has released a schedule only up to a possible Game 5 for both series.

San Miguel is coming off a long rest, ending its elimination schedule in a 103-97 loss to Alaska last Dec. 16. The Aces closed out their elimination calendar with a 108-100 win over Barako Bull last Dec. 19. The 18-day layoff could be good or bad for the Beermen. They’re either rusty or ready for the playoffs. As for Alaska, the Aces’ 15-day rest could also be good or bad. Knowing the Beermen and Aces, they’ll come in fit to play. Alaska wound up No. 1 and San Miguel No. 2 in the eliminations to earn a leave from participating in the quarterfinals. They were seeded straight into the semifinals.

Both No. 3 Rain Or Shine and No. 5 Globalport were unbeaten in the quarters. The Elasto Painters tripped No. 10 Blackwater, 95-90, in the first phase of the playoffs then bounced TNT via a surprisingly easy 104-89 decision. The Batang Pier took out Barako Bull, 94-85, in the first phase then upset No. 4 Barangay Ginebra, 84-83, in overtime in the knockout second phase.

The Aces went to the finals twice in three conferences last season and were frustrated both times by San Miguel – 4-3 in the Philippine Cup and 4-0 in the Governors Cup. So they’re hungry to go back to the finals and reward coach Alex Compton with his first championship. Globalport is hungry, too. It’s the Batang Pier’s first Final Four appearance and coach Pido Jarencio has brought a rush of life into Globalport whose previous best finish was fifth in the last Governors Cup.

Alaska is probably the league’s best two-way team, No. 2 in offense with a 101.3 average, No. 1 in field goal percentage at .452, No. 1 in three-point field goal percentage at .386, No. 1 in turnover points at 17.5, No. 1 in opponents turnovers at 20.1, No. 2 in transition points at 13.2 and No. 2 in field goal percentage allowed at .399. The chink in Alaska’s armor is its tendency to throw away possessions, averaging 19.2 turnovers – second most in that department.

While Compton has a regular starting lineup, his philosophy of equal opportunity gives as much importance to his second unit. In fact, the Aces’ top two scorers Vic Manuel (16.4) and Calvin Abueva (13.4) haven’t started a game all conference long. Not a single player is averaging 30 or more minutes so Compton has done a solid job of spreading the sunshine. One of the Aces up Compton’s sleeve is Dondon Hontiveros who’s averaging 6.9 points and hitting .465 from beyond the arc. Hontiveros usually keeps his best for last and that means he’s bound to explode deep in the playoffs.

Globalport is No. 3 in offense with 99.6 points but last in defense, giving up 99.3. Jarencio has built his team around Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle, averaging a combined 45 points, and why not? There isn’t a backcourt tandem in the PBA that’s as fiery. Jarencio is credited for getting the Batang Pier supporting cast to buy into his system and play back-up roles for Romeo and Pringle. Jay Washington and Joseph Yeo are averaging a combined 19 points but they’re content to defer. However, if Jarencio wants J-Wash and Yeo to pull the trigger, they’re not shy to do it. Two players are averaging more rebounds than points in the lineup and that’s an indication of how Jarencio has harnessed the resources available to him. Doug Kramer is averaging 8.8 points and 9.2 rebounds while Rico Maierhofer is norming 5.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. On paper, Globalport looks like a two-man show but if you analyze the stats carefully, you’ll find Batang Pier’s success is anchored on a team support system. Globalport’s problem is lack of defensive consistency.

Rain Or Shine could’ve ended No. 1 in the eliminations but was bushwhacked by NLEX, 111-106, in its last game to finish at No. 3. The Elasto Painters are the league’s most balanced team with five players averaging in twin digits, no one averaging at least 30 minutes and seven logging at least 20. They’re No. 1 in offense with 101.5 points, No. 1 in assists with 20.7, No. 1 in fastbreak points with 16.5, No. 2 in rebounds allowed with 46.5 and No. 2 in assists allowed with 16.7. All 14 players in coach Yeng Guiao’s cast have started. In the two-phase quarterfinals, the Painters who’ve upped their scoring clips were Jeff Chan (14.5 to 15), J. R. Quinahan (10.2 to 13.5), Raymond Almazan (11.2 to 13), Maverick Ahanmisi (8.5 to 10.5), Gabe Norwood (7.6 to 9.5) and Don Trollano (4.6 to 9.0). Beau Belga increased his rebounding stats from 6.2 to 8.5 and Jewel Ponferada did the same from 5.8 to 6.5.

If Guiao’s advantage is depth, coach Leo Austria likes to go with his crack reliables. For San Miguel, Austria’s Big Three is made of JuneMar Fajardo (23.1 points/14.4 rebounds), Arwind Santos (15.5/7.2) and Alex Cabagnot (14.5/4.0/5.0), all averaging at least 32 minutes. San Miguel is No. 2 in defense, giving up 89.3 points, No. 1 in blocked shots at 5.1, No. 1 in second chance points at 14.7, No. 1 in least rebounds allowed at 45.7 and No. 1 in second chance points allowed at 10.4. Whatever offense Austria is able to generate from his other players is a bonus.