Legendary coaches Brian Goorjian and Tim Cone found themselves on collision course once more but, this time, will be battling for the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup title that would add another hardware to their already well-decorated coaching careers.
Both their teams, Bay Area and Ginebra, only needed four games to dispose of their respective semifinals opponents and forge a seven-game series that would pit the guest team, which took the PBA by storm, and the league’s crowd darlings.
Goorjian is thrilled to be playing in the Finals after a hard-fought semis series win over SMB and especially that he will be coaching in his very first best-of-seven series against Cone – the winningest coach in league history.
“I've been in the game a long time, never in the NBA but I've never been involved in a seven game series,” revealed Goorjian.
“Five is in Australia, every now and then I've been involved in best-of-five but never a best-of-seven. So great opportunity and just really proud to be in there and we know we have a battle on our hands we know that,” he added.
Interestingly, Bay Area had its first taste of defeat in the PBA at the hands of Ginebra during the eliminations and the Dragons are eager to get back at the Kings who in the series that, if they reach Game 7, will be played at the Philippine Arena in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
“Nothing but respect for Tim Cone. nothing but respect for that team they dominated the semifinals. They dominated the quarters. They dominated the finish of the season and they dominated us the first time they played us,” said Goorjian.
“I'm hoping we’ve got better and I'm hoping that we have got the opportunity now until the 25th to prepare and there will be no excuses,” he added.
Game 1 of the PBA Finals is set on Christmas Day on Sunday, Dec. 25.