The huge amount of history between the San Miguel Beermen and the TNT Tropang 5G means their second-straight finals match-up is expected to be an all-out war between the two squads.
San Miguel coach Leo Austria expects their opponents to be fully motivated in their best-of-seven finals series, which begins on Wednesday, January 21.
Even San Miguel team governor Robert Non said the match-up will be even more interesting this time around since TNT will be ready with most of their key players fully healthy.
The Beermen defeated the Tropang 5G in six games in the Philippine Cup last season, and the latter are expected to be motivated in their rematch.
Tropang 5G needed only five matches to beat Meralco in their semifinal series, a sign that the team is fully ready to take on the defending champions head-on.
Non said that the tough match-up by the Beermen against Barangay Ginebra in the semi-finals should hopefully serve them well in preparation for another tough grind against the Tropang 5G.
TNT officials did not hide the fact that they wanted a return trip to the finals to get another crack at the crown after losing the last time out.
TNT now has more depth in their lineup with the addition of Jio Jalalon and Kevin Ferrer.
Though playing limited minutes coming off the bench, the two players could help the team out with their defensive intensity.
Rey Nambatac, who missed the previous finals stint due to injury, is also back and fully healthy.
He was instrumental in the team’s victory over Meralco in the semifinals.
Reliable players such as Calvin Oftana, Jordan Heading and Roger Pogoy will likewise be key factors for TNT in the finals match-up.
Healthy line-up crucial in long series
The five-day rest is a welcome development for the two teams, with June Mar Fajardo dealing with a shoulder injury that bothered him in the semifinal series of the Beermen against Barangay Ginebra.
The injury did not force him to miss games, and the extra days before the championship series will be a huge help.
TNT’s Pogoy, on the other hand, is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Reyes said they are hoping Pogoy will be able to play at some point in the series, noting that the injury needs more time to heal.
Pogoy is one of the team’s better defenders and shooters, making him an integral part of their strategy.
Aside from Pogoy and Fajardo, the two teams will be parading a relatively intact lineup, paving the way for an exciting series, as shown by the way they battled in the previous season.
Tough grind ahead
In the presser of the Finals today, officials from both teams said they expect a long battle ahead.
While they are familiar with each other already, the new series presents new challenges for both players and the coaching staff.
Reyes noted that with a more complete squad now, he expects TNT to be better equipped to overcome the defending champions.
TNT may have the extra motivation of getting back at the Beermen, who spoiled their grand slam hopes last season after winning the Philippine Cup, but team officials stressed that they are not looking at it as a “revenge” series.
Austria, for his part, said the Beermen are ready for the challenges ahead of them.
It will be interesting to see how the two teams with contrasting offensive styles implement their gameplan.
TNT thrives more on a faster pace with slashers attacking the basket or kicking out to shooters around the perimeter.
The Beermen, on the other hand, prefer to dictate the shaded lane with Fajardo as their main anchor.
Game 1 is set for Wednesday, January 21, at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
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