by Jonas Terrado
Game Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. — Magnolia vs San Miguel
The Big Dome will resemble a big starting gate when two thoroughbreds, snorting impatiently in their stalls, thunder out as soon as the doors fly open.
San Miguel Beer and Magnolia look to set the tempo and gain the early advantage in the opener of their PBA Philippine Cup Finals rematch at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. with the defending four-time champion Beermen and the reigning Governors’ Cup winner expecting another hard-fought encounter similar to what they went through during the semifinals.
San Miguel Beer Head Coach Leo Austria (PBA Images)
Much has been talked about whether Magnolia now has the tools to end San Miguel’s reign in the season’s biggest tournament after the painful experience of losing 4-1 last season.
Magnolia had gone on to win the aforementioned Governors’ Cup trophy last December before enduring multiple obstacles in the current conference.
Beermen coach Leo Austria knows his team will have their hands full against the Hotshots.
“It’s going to be lot tougher because Magnolia has matured a lot,” Austria said. “They gained plenty of experience by winning a championship last conference and it could be a big help in their cause.”
But Austria also knows that San Miguel won’t be quivering in fear as they’re determined to claim the championship for the seventh time since 2015.
Exciting individual duels lie ahead in the best-of-seven affair with San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang expected to showcase their individual moves in the paint although the taller Rafi Reavis might initially do the honors first on the 6-foot-10 SMB center.
Magnolia’s Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon will look to ruffle the feathers of San Miguel backcourt counterparts of Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross and Terrence Romeo even as Romeo could find himself ranged against Magnolia’s Paul Lee with SMB sharpshooter Marcio Lassiter still in question with a back injury.
SMB’s Christian Standhardinger looks to make up for his failure to win a title in his first try in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup while the veteran Reavis, one of the heroes of Magnolia’s Game 7 semis win over Rain or Shine, eyes his 12th PBA championship.
The role players could also be the difference makers with San Miguel’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Von Pessumal and Magnolia’s Rome dela Rosa, Robbie Herndon and Justin Melton posing as potential threats.