ILOILO City – Several Western Visayas-based sports personalities are favoring Boston Celtics over THE Dallas Mavericks in the 2023-2024 NBA Finals, which will begin on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines) at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Majority of the coaches and sports personalities from the region interviewed by Panay News see the Celtics hoisting their 18th NBA championship trophy at the expense of the Mavericks.
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Dexter Dy, retired basketball coach
“I see Boston winning the series. They have the NBA finals experience and home court advantage. Jrue Holiday is the one who will make a difference for the Celtics due to his championship experience and his defense can also make life difficult for (Mavericks’) Luka (Doncic) and Kyrie (Irving) whoever he guards. Also (Jayson) Tatum and (Jaylen) Brown can match up well with Luka and Kyrie.” Celtics in 6.
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Rene Bernil of Tigbauan Ninjas
“Boston is an experienced team and they played solid defense with Holiday leading them. They also got a lot of perimeter shooters with Brown, (Derrick) White, and Jason. If (Kristapz) Porzingis is available then it’s a win-win for Celtics. But the key there is defense. If they can neutralize Luka or Irving, it’s going to be a long road for the Mavs.” Celtics in 6.
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Yong Despi, St. Joseph School-La Salle Bacolod head coach
“Both teams are underrated but I think Boston will come out on top with the crown. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are huge problems defensively for Dallas and Boston also has the finals experience.” Celtics in 6.
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Tata Belangel, Iloilo Scholastic Academy head coach
“For Boston, Tatum and Brown will be a big problem sa wings ng Dallas; Jrue Holiday and White will also be a match up problem to Kyrie, they will try to contain him or limit a little bit but they cannot stop him, and Al Horford is a big problem also for Dallas kasi outside shooting at finals experience niya.
“On the part of Dallas, si Kyrie ang magiging edge nila because of his championship experience, Doncic also need to play big in this series kasi he needs to play offense and defense, Coach Jayson Kidd will also give Boston a big problem when it comes to switching sa offense, and the role players of Dallas will be play also a big role because they need to support Kyrie and Luka.” Celtics in 6.
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Jophil Cercado, University of San Agustin men’s basketball head coach
“Both teams are organized and disciplined but Boston will have an edge on Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday. Dallas needs to contain or limit Tatum’s ball touches and also needs a warm body to play physical defense on Boston players.” Celtics in 6.
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Bayani Ladrido, Chairman’s Cup Operations Head
“I have my bias in this series because I am Celtics fan since birth. They have the edge because they are the more veteran team compared to Dallas and they have also reached the NBA Finals once.
“Also, ‘yung eight-player rotation ng Boston talagang maasahan because they deliver whether on offense or defense.” Celtics in 4.
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Jay Javelosa, Iloilo United Royals playing team manager
“Both Dallas and Boston have a young core and at the same time have veterans who can deliver when needed the most (Irving and Holiday).
“I would say Boston has the advantage since most of them played in the finals already. Dallas si Irving lang.”
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Eugene Chua, Elite Lab team manager
“For me, advantage sa experience ang Boston but hindi rin pwede balewalain ang Dallas kasi they have a deeper bench.”
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While most see the Celtics winning the series, there are also some who see the Mavericks taking home its first-ever NBA championship since the Dirk Nowitzki era.
Prandy Wong, Dingle National High School women’s basketball coach
“Advantage talaga ng Dallas si Luka, I think no one from Boston can guard him, he is Basketball genius for me. X-factors ng Dallas talaga ang kanilang twin tower sa ilalim, (Daniel) Gafford and (Dereck) Lively (II) both on offense and defense. Pero kung outside shooting ang pag uusapan, para sakin lamang dun ang Boston.” Mavericks in 7.
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Vincent Conlu, Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix head coach
“Dallas Mavericks, for me, have the edge over Boston Celtics because of Kyrie Irving. He has the championship experience and, I think, he can lead this team, especially in clutch situations.” Mavericks in 6.
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Richard Gabayoyo, National Basketball Training Center Region 6 head
“For me, the team that had good communication inside the court, the team with great tandem and the team with more thirst to win the championship will reign the 2024 NBA Finals and that is Dallas Mavericks.” Mavericks in 6.
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Ray Cabarles, Iloilo province sports development officer IV
“I see no eminent Luka stopper from Boston side. He can control and dictate the tempo of the game that Boston does not have.
“Dereck Lively is an X Factor for Dallas. He makes the team alive with his intensity in rebounds, defense and put back dunks.” Mavericks in 6.
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Atoy Callora Jr., Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts coach
“For me, I will go with Dallas. ‘Yung tandem nila Luka and Kyrie nasa different level talaga, mahirap silang depensahan. But para sa Boston, their chances will depend sa maturity ni Tatum and Brown.” Mavericks in 6.
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Francis Barcellano, former TNT Tropang Giga player
“Luka Doncic’s basketball IQ and the way Kyrie Irving has played for Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs will be a huge factor in this championship series.” Mavericks in 6./PN
