From the Stands - Ginebra vs Alaska gets personal (part one)

Two of the talented dudes from the From the Stands podcast, Chuck Araneta and Polo Bustamante, spent the days leading up to the start of the Commissioner's Cup Finals emailing back-and-forth in anticipation of what is expected to be an epic series.

Araneta is a die-hard Alaska fan, while Bustamante rolls with LA Tenorio, which means he's part of the Barangay for this series at least. In part one, the two discuss how both teams got this far, and dissect the match-ups between the locals.


How We Got Here:

Polo Bustamante: So here we are. Just like you and Carlo [Pamintuan] were destined to collide in the semis, it was only a matter of time before we had our own head-to-head match-up.

It’s no surprise that I lost my love for Alaska as soon as LA Tenorio was traded from the team. And it’s only natural that my allegiance followed my favorite PBA player to his new team. This is why for five games, I’m rolling with the Barangay. I’m repping Ginebra in this epic Finals match-up against the best team in the league, your very own, Alaska Aces.

Chuck Araneta: Man, I never knew Alaska had these many personal rivalries! Every time we advance further this conference, Alaska faces another squad who’s just as hungry and has the same motivation and desire to be champions as well.

One last hurdle remains - these feisty Barangay Ginebra Kings, who completely believe that it is their destiny to be champions of the Commissioner’s Cup. There’s only one problem: Alaska is standing in their way, and the Aces are looking to write the epic conclusion on what has been a pulsating run for the Aces.

Bring on the Barangay!

The Backcourt:

Polo: If there’s one team that’s had a truly pulsating, heart-stopping, panic-inducing run, it’s Ginebra. And leading that team is the outcast of the Alaska Aces, LA Tenorio. Ever since Caguioa has gone down, Tenorio has owned Ginebra and has clearly taken on the leadership role of the team.

For a conference and a half, Tenorio has been dormant. He’s played the Robin role to Caguioa’s Batman. But when Tenorio realized that he’s not a sidekick, but a superstar just like Caguioa, the GINeral was unleashed.

Jvee Casio has never faced THIS LA Tenorio yet. Tenorio has elevated his game to new heights. He’s been aggressive attacking the basket, astutely controlling his team. He’s found the balance between taking over and getting his teammates involved.

This is Tenorio’s series to own. This is where he stamps his class and proves to everyone, you never, ever trade a superstar.

Chuck: I want to make one thing clear to you: LA Tenorio, for a time WAS Alaska. He was the heart and soul of the team. He was all the Aces had, and the person that the Gatas Republik looked to, to provide hope for the future. When he left for Ginebra, it was a gut punch that really took time to recover from.  

You’re talking like Tenorio changed his game when Caguioa went down. Newsflash: Alaska has seen THIS Tenorio for close to five years. They know the capabilities he has a floor general, with his cuts to the basket, timely passes and step-back shots. The absence of Caguioa has opened up the court for Tenorio to wheel and deal.

But Alaska will be ready for that. They will clog the lanes for Tenorio so that he won’t be able to penetrate too deep, so that they can still recover on Jayjay Helterbrand and Josh Urbiztondo. They will live with Tenorio taking step-back three-pointers all day, because it takes away from the dreaded movement of Ginebra. They will be prepared for that.


One last thing: do not sleep on Jvee Casio. Only in his second year, his game is continuing to evolve from merely being content as an outside shooter, to mixing up dribble penetrations and a variety of scoop shots. Plus his ability to play the passing lanes as well as maximize pick and roll opportunities with Thoss and Dozier cannot be understated. He’s not yet on the level of Tenorio, because very few are. But one way or another, he will make his presence felt on the floor.

Polo: I'm not sleeping on Jvee Casio. I really believe he's improved leaps and bounds from the shooting guard that he was last year (Sorry, couldn't resist). I do agree with you on Jvee. he's developed a great passing game. This is a product of chemistry and understanding his team better.

Still, he's got to beat the man, to be the man. I just don't see Casio to be on the same level as Tenorio yet, as much as he's improved and developed. I also think (and hope) that Alfrancis Chua has some new tricks up his sleeve. I'm sure that Coach Luigi Trillo has got Tenorio scouted.

Their main focus will be to stop Tenorio. This is why I don’t think Ginebra will field the usual PG-SG-SF-PF-C rotation. That plays heavily into what Alaska's expecting them to do. I’m hoping Chua goes all out and plays a lot of small-ball.

You’re going to see a lot of three-guard sets, which will give Ginebra different looks. Anyone from Tenorio, Urbiztondo and Helterbrand can handle the ball, set the offense and shoot. This should give Ginebra a more dynamic look on offense.

The Frontcourt:

Chuck: Alaska's frontcourt will be Tony Dela Cruz, Nic Belasco, Gabby Espinas, Sonny Thoss and one Calvin Abueva.

You might have heard of him.

They're big, long and nasty. If there's one frontcourt player who can really give Ginebra fits, I believe it will be Thoss. In previous match-ups against Ginebra, Alaska executed pick and roll decoy sets initiated by Casio, with Thoss staying outside to lure out his defender, and if open, shoot jumpers. That's a deadly weapon to have, to help counter the Ginebra defense.

Thoss needs to be a factor on offense as well as defense. He has been the designated import stopper for the Aces, helping contain Michael Dunnigan in the quarterfinals then Denzel Bowles in the semifinals.


I also think that Gabby Espinas will play a huge role in this series, because I see him being matched up against Kerby Raymundo for stretches. Kerby killed Talk 'N Text because they were so worried about surrendering perimeter shots to Helterbrand, Tenorio and Urbiztondo that they couldn't provide defense in time.

With Espinas though, he's mobile enough to be able to defend Kerby and still rotate on shooters. He'll need to have an impact. And don't even get me started on Calvin Abueva. From the Ginebra point of view, what kind of impact do you see the beast having on the frontcourt of Ginebra?

Polo: I fully expect Abueva to wreak havoc on the Ginebra frontcourt. I have a feeling that Abueva will be the guy doubling Macklin. He'll be like the fly you just want to swat. Coach Chua will have to keep Macklin's head in the game. If Abueva gets to Macklin, that definitely throws a monkey-wrench in Ginebra's game plan.

This is where Raymundo and Baracael have to step up. they have to be consistent threats on offense so that Abueva and Espinas will focus on them. Baracael has really stepped up his game in the semis. We all expected him to produce in the absence of Caguioa and he's really done well so far. Being a former Ace, he's got a lot riding on this series as well.


Part two has Chuck and Polo discussing the imports, the coaches, and of course, their predictions for this series.


- AMD, GMA NEWS