RP coach picks SMB over Ginebra

By WAYLON GALVEZ

While it’s a toss up between Rain or Shine and defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty, San Miguel Beer obviously has an advantage over its sister team Barangay Ginebra in their respective quarterfinals matches.

This is how coach Yeng Guiao sees the best-of-three quarterfinals of the season-opening KFC-PBA Philippine Cup, which starts tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Fiesta Cup champion Kings, together with the Elasto Painters and the Realtors earned outright berths in the quarters for finishing at the top five after the elimination phase of the tournament.

The Bermen, on the other hand, went through two do-or-die games in the knockout wildcard phase – dispatching the Coca-Cola Tigers (99-89) and the Air21 Express (105-86) last Sunday – to claim the last quarters slot.

For Guiao, who recently resigned as Red Bull coach, said the PBA quarters will be about Rain or Shine’s ‘youth’ versus Sta. Lucia’s ‘experience.’

"I think it’s even," Guiao, who kept his position as mentor of the all-pro National Team that will compete in the FIBA-Asia Championship this August in China, said.

"Rain or Shine’s weapon is their youth, speed and athleticism because of their young players, but Sta. Lucia can counter it with their experience and stability because of their veteran players," he added.

The Elasto Painters are in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history or since joining the PBA in 2006 primarily because of their two superb rookies wingman Gabe Norwood and guard Sol Mercado.

Norwood, Mercado, as well as the additions on freshman TY Tang and veteran forward Eddie Laure complemented coach Caloy Garcia’s mainstays Jay-R Reyes, Rob Wainwright, Don Dulay, Jireh Ibanez and Ryan Arana.

"If they can dictate the tempo with their running game, they have a chance to beat the Realtors in this series," Guiao said. "When it comes to up tempo style of play, Sta. Lucia has a problem."

Guiao, however, didn’t discount the possibility of SLR controlling this short series.

Key for SLR is for veterans like Dennis Espino and Marlou Aquino to play solid games with reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kelly Williams, who is only in his third year in the league and last season’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Reyes.

Others expected to step up for the Realtors are Joseph Yeo, Paolo Mendoza, Bitoy Omolon, Denok Miranda and Norman Gonzales.

As for the battle between San Miguel Corp. (SMC) sister teams Ginebra and SMB, it is predictable, according to Guiao, because of the fact that the Kings will come into the series still missing key players Mark Caguioa and Rafi Reavis.

Without Caguioa (knee) and Reavis (shoulder), coach Jong Uichico will have to rely more on Jayjay Hekterbrand, Fiesta Cup co-Finals MVP Ronald Tubid and Eric Menk, as well as Junthy Valenzuela, Sunday Salvacion and Paul Artadi.

"Malaking bagay kung may kulang sa team mo lalo kung key players ang wala. May slight advantage na agad yung kalaban," Guiao said.

The twin victories SMB had in the wildcard against Coke and Air21 also would give coach Siot Tanquingcen’s wards the needed momentum, Guiao said.

"It’s good for a team to enter a series coming of two impressive victories," Guiao said.

RP coach picks SMB over Ginebra

RP coach picks SMB over Ginebra

RP coach picks SMB over Ginebra :: Comments