Rayver Cruz, Jeric Gonzales, and other Kapuso hunks place their bets on the 2019 NBA Finals
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Just before the series started, GMANetwork.com asked several Kapuso hunks on which team they think will win the 2019 NBA Finals.
Just before the series started, GMANetwork.com asked several Kapuso hunks on which team they think will win the 2019 NBA Finals: the three-peat-seeking Golden State Warriors or the first-timer in the Finals Toronto Raptors.
Kristoffer Martin
Prediction: Golden State, 4-0
Actor Kristoffer Martin placed his bet on the defending champions Golden State Warriors. He emphasized that the Warriors started the Super Team when they acquired all-stars Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins.
“GS [Golden State] 'yan e. Sana sweep, para deserve. Nasa kanila na kasi lahat e, sila 'yung nagsimula ng super team ng mga yan. May Cousins ka, may Durant ka,” he said.
Unfortunately for Kristoffer, the Raptors drew first blood in their best-of-seven match-up, 118-109.
Rayver Cruz
Prediction: Golden State, 4-2
Rayver Cruz, a basketball player himself, placed his bet on the Golden State but he still believed that the Raptor will win because he is a fan of LeBron James.
James, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, missed the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
“So basta kahit sino, ayoko lang na mag-three peat,” Rayver joked.
He then explained his bet saying, “LeBron fan talaga ako, hindi ako sanay na hindi sila 'yung magtatapat sa Finals pero I'm rooting for Kawhi [Leonard] and Toronto Raptors kasi first-time nila mag-Finals, ever.”
LeBron faced the Golden State in the Finals for four consecutive times from 2015-2018 when he was still playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Parang high expectations din [sa Raptors] diba? Pero at the back of my head, alam kong magti-three-peat, ayoko man sabihin to pero 4-2 yan.”
The series is currently tied at one game-apiece, with the Warriors bouncing back in Game 2, 109-104.
Jeric Gonzales
Prediction: Toronto Raptors, 4-3
Meanwhile, actor Jeric Gonzales, also a Lakers fan, placed his bet on the Toronto Raptors, saying that claiming this year's championship is their destiny.
“I'll go with the rival of LeBron James, LeBron fan kasi ako e. So rival ng Golden State, sa Raptor ako,” he said. “I think magkakaroon 'to ng Game 7 kasi medyo matindi talaga yung Golden State and I think mahihirapan yung Raptors.”
He added, “Para sa akin, destined 'to sa kanila [Toronto Raptors] kasi first time nila makapasok sa finals, sa championship na si Kawhi Leonard lang yung nagdala sa kanila, wala silang ibang player kaya sa tingin ko sa kanila 'to.”
In the postseason, Kawhi is averaging 30.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. In the first two games of the Finals, Kawhi averaged 28.5 points per game.
Gil Cuerva
Prediction: Golden State 4-0 or 4-1
Another Lakers fan in Gil Cuerva placed his bet on the defending champions, Golden State Warriors. The three-peat seeking Warriors was predicted by Gil to win the NBA Championship in four or five games.
“Maximum yung five, pwedeng four,” Gil said. “I mean sa lagay na yan ah, na-sweep ng Warriors yung Blazed nang wala si KD, na wala si DeMarcus Cousins, what more kung kasama pa sila? Definitely Warriors in 4 or 5.”
Durant is not playing since he partially tore his calf muscle during their game against the Houston Rockets last May 8. Cousins, meanwhile, also suffered a quad injury in the opening round of the postseason.
Gil took a step forward, predicting who will win the Finals MVP Award.
“Kung hindi maglaro si KD ng first two games, si Steph yung magiging MVP. If KD plays, siya yung magiging Finals MVP.”
