Philippine Cup Finals: It's best offense vs. best defense

Brace yourself for an action-packed, drama-filled PBA Philippine Cup finals.

Defending back-to-back champion Talk ‘N Text looks to impose its league dominance anew while Rain or Shine tries to cement its status as a genuine force to reckon with as their best-of-seven titular showdown gets going Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

ALSO READ: 2013 Philippine Cup Finals: Five things to expect

"For these two, it is an opportunity to acquire the bragging rights of being the best all-Filipino team in the country today and solidify the PBA's position as the premier sports entertainment event in the country," PBA commissioner Chito Salud stated Monday during the traditional pre-Finals press conference at the Topaz Room inside Gateway Suites in Araneta Center.

Game 1 is set at 6:45 p.m., with the Tropang Texters determined to clinch the perpetual Jun Bernardino trophy and the Elasto-Painters out to prove their Governors Cup conquest last season is no fluke.
 
Texters as odds-on favorites
 
TNT, which booted out Alaska in six games in the semifinals, will be appearing in its sixth finals stint in the last seven conferences, making the Texters odd-on favorites over the Painters.

Coach Norman Black, who is eyeing his 11th PBA championship and his first since the 2001 Governors Cup crown with defunct Sta. Lucia, refused to be swayed with the notion, saying: “These are the two best teams playing the best basketball right now.”

“It doesn't really matter (the favorites’ tag). The games will still have to be won on-court. If we are the favorites, so be it. We still have to beat them four times,” he added.

Rain or Shine, which re-asserted its mastery of SanMig Coffee in the semis, appeared to be a tough nut to crack, but tactician Yeng Guiao insisted his charges are relishing the underdogs’ role.

ALSO READ: Coaches pick Texters to prevail

"Sa quarterfinals series namin, against Ginebra ‘di kami favored. Against San Mig Coffee in the semifinals, ‘di kami favored. Mas lalo kaming hindi favored dito,” he offered.

“”Pero gusto namin iyon–we want to be the underdogs. Mas marami silang experience and championships. Kami iisa, pero that's enough. Mas marami silang talent. Kami barya-barya boys, ‘di highly-paid, we have no superstars. But we have enough talent."
 
Contrasting styles

Armed with enough ammunition, the Texters are locked and loaded offensively while the Elasto Painters are flourishing on the defensive end, but Black stated “someone’s gotta give.”

"We're the number one offensive team and they're now the number one team in terms of defense after having knocked out the previous number 1 (San Mig Coffee)," stated the American mentor.

Guiao expounded that more, saying: "They're a great offensive team which can also play defense while we're a good defensive team which can also play good offense.”
 
Bold predictions
 
Owing to their youth being the youngest team in the 10-team field, Guiao is convinced the “the longer the series, the better for us.”

"We just want to hang around and give ourselves a chance. That's all we want. If we can hang on and bring it to a Game 7 then better for us,” he added.

Black, meanwhile, offered a clear-cut approach, saying: "I don’t care how long this series goes, as long as we win four. We’re well-balanced. I’m just focus on trying to help this team win and give my players the best chance to win. If it goes to a Game 7 then it goes to a Game 7 and we'll see how it plays out.”
 
A bruising finals showdown
 
With the Painters expected to impose their swagger defensively, the Texters are gearing up for a bruising and intense encounter.

“It’s gonna be a hard-fought and physical series,” noted veteran slotman Ali Peek, an observation echoed by forward Jared Dillinger, saying: “It’s going like to be a WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) match. But we’re all excited and (we) can’t wait for this to start.”

Jeff Chan, the Painters’ top offensive threat, also shared the same view, stating: “Tingin ko, exciting ang series na ‘to. Siguradong magiging pisikal. Kaya kung sino ang makakapag-execute (ng plays), sila ang mananalo.”

Burly forward Beau Belga, the other half of the team’s dreaded Extra Rice Inc. that includes another beefy body in JR Quinahan, admitted they’re also been playing physical even in the team’s scrimmages.

“Magiging maganda ang series na ‘to. Sabi nga nila, magiging pisikal. Sa practice pa nga lang, hindi na kami nagbibigayan. Talagang pukpukan na. nagbubuhat na nga ako ng marami ngayon dahil mabigat kalaban si Ali,” he related, tongue-in-cheek.
 
Fair and square officiating
 
With both teams expected not to give an inch, Salud assured game officials will do its part of ensuring a fair and square officiating.

“I think the pressure, if any, is on both teams. For the referees, any pressure on them is just to make sure they call it fairly and without any bias,” he noted.

Salud also thoroughly explained the vital officiating grounds that will be observed during the finals.

 “First is the officiating policy. When I made the rounds of all the teams, I made it clear there will be no touch fouls. We will call the clear and obvious contact. This is the policy and this policy does not permit unnecessary roughness and dirty plays,” he noted.

“Second is the officiating itself. This is not perfect, and it has not been over time or in time immemorial. But this will be unbiased and fair. It is anchored on continuous learning and improving as the game evolves."

“Third, the sanctions. Sanctions are being meted out and are clearly prescribed in the rulebook which includes the commissioner’s power to review, upgrade, downgrade, and impose penalties on players. This is an authority that I exercised with great circumspect, judiciousness, fairness and even compassion,” he concluded.