The Final Score: In a 2-2 finals series, SMB is the more dominant team

 

Which do you focus on in the PBA Philippine Cup finals: San Miguel’s ability to build big leads or Alaska’s knack for erasing big leads? Do you hail the team that routinely dominates or do you praise the squad that has made the dramatic comeback its calling card? 

 

Alaska’s doggedness in the series has been remarkable. Even when San Miguel was leading by 20-plus in Game Four, we still believed it was a close game. That’s the effect of Alaska’s postmodern never-say-die mystique. 

 

The Aces are never out of a game.

 

Because we know Alaska is just a Dondon Hontiveros three-pointer away from starting a run. Because we know Alaska is just a Ping Exciminiano steal in the backcourt away from sparking a rally. Because it’s harder to bring the ball down against Exciminiano than it is to spell Exciminiano. Because Alaska’s pressure defense works like a fast-approaching deadline: nakaka-stress, it leads to anxiety, panic attacks, nervous breakdowns.

 

But that’s the thing. In Game Four, San Miguel didn’t break down. The Beermen built a big lead. What’s new? They build big leads the way Doug Kramer posts selfies on Instagram. As in, always.

However, unlike in Games One and Three, the Beermen kept that big lead all the way ‘til the end. Huy, bago yun ah. No anxious moments. No panic attacks. No nervous meltdowns. No comebacks. No crazy 18-to-1 runs by the guys in the rearview mirror. It was just wire-to-wire dominance by the stronger team. 

 

Remember when we used to ask, “Can San Miguel protect a big lead?” That question suddenly feels like an old concern. While it’s fun to watch Alaska’s harrowing feats of persistence, no coach ever wants to see his team trail by double-digits so early and so often. That’s the problem with never-say-die; for the magic to happen, the never-say-die team must stumble first. Perhaps a new query deserves an answer. How can Alaska stop San Miguel from leading by 20 in the succeeding games? 

 

 

I mean, the Aces have assigned Sonny Thoss, Eric Menk, Sam Eman, Poch Juinio, Jumbo Bolado, and Giovanni Pineda to guard June Mar Fajardo all at the same time and the Beermen can still lead by 20.

 

Arwind Santos is now a three-point shooter.

 

Alex Cabagnot is back to being a 20-point threat.

 

Chris Lutz is hitting midrange shots.

 

Chris Ross looks at Alaska’s pressure defense and says, “Hey, I do that too.”

 

David Semerad is ready to ruin an Alaska player’s day.

 

Ronald Tubid is ready to ruin an Alaska player’s day even more.

 

Again, do you hail the team that routinely dominates or do you praise the squad that has made the dramatic comeback its calling card? It’s the routinely dominating part that stands out. It’s the routinely dominating part that will keep Alaska coaches awake for 48 hours straight. How can San Miguel do this against a team that plays straight-in-your-eyelids defense?

 

Still, Alaska will never be out of a game. We know that. Alaska will always make a 20-point deficit look like a modest 10-point problem. 

 

In the same manner, San Miguel is making us look at a 2-2 series differently. Normally, a 2-2 count suggests an ongoing struggle among equals. Kaya nga may deadlock. But the Beermen prefer that we think otherwise. Even in a tied series, the team that repeatedly surges ahead knows it has the upper hand over the team that regularly needs to catch up. — JST, GMA News