LIKE a match made in heaven, the best-of-seven showdown between Magnolia Hotshots and Alaska Aces in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals is expected to be a tight one.
Several PBA coaches were one in saying that the Hotshots-Aces will go down the wire in each match and could even go the full distance due to similarities in their style of play.
NLEX Road Warriors and national team mentor Yeng Guiao said the Hotshots will have the advantage in the frontline while the Aces will have the edge when it comes to the backcourt.
The Hotshots are the taller team with Ian Sangalang, Rafi Reavis, Rodney Brondial, Aldrech Ramos, and Kyle Pascual, while the Aces enjoy the guard edge with Chris Banchero, Jvee Casio, Ping Exciminiano, and Simon Enciso.
“Tingin ko sa import tabla lang,” Guiao said. “Si Mike Harris mataas ang average but tingin ko kaya ni Romeo Travis umiskor kung gugustuhin. He just defers to his teammates. He’s more effective in sharing the ball with his teammates.”
“Mas may lamang lang sa bigs ang Magnolia but may edge naman ang Alaska when it comes to the guards,” he added. “It’s a tossup. The two teams are almost even, tingin ko walang nakakalamang.”
San Miguel Beermen mentor Leo Austria, meanwhile, said Magnolia has the talented roster among the two but Alaska could use its tried-and-tested system play to its advantage.
“We all know Alaska’s system. They just keep on improving every conference with it,” said Austria. “But Magnolia is dangerous with the fact that anybody from its core group can explode at any time.”
“Sa Alaska, medyo predictable kung sino ang pupuntos. Sa Magnolia, maraming pwedeng pumutok,” he added. “I will not be surprised if all the games go down to the wire, and I expect a Game 7 that would make the PBA fans very happy.”
Phoenix Fuel Masters head coach Francisco Luis Alas said that, with both teams having the same brand of play, rebounds and turnovers could be the deciding factor of the series.
“Strengths and weaknesses, almost even. Kung sino ang less turnovers at mas marami ang offensive rebounds, siya ang mananalo,” said Alas, who was a long time Aces assistant coach before moving to Phoenix.
The Hotshots-Aces series is set to begin Dec. 5 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City after the league had a half-a-month break to give way to the fifth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifier./PN
