Officials of Meralco Bolts and Barangay Ginebra refused to accept the 'favorite' tag as the two equally determined squads mix it up for Round 3 of their battle for the PBA Governors' Cup crown. "I think Meralco is really the underdog," said Bolts' Governor Al Panlilio during Saturday's pre-finals presscon.
Panlilio looked back at the previous title encounters in 2016 and 2017, which the Gin Kings won in six and seven games, respectively, to justify his pronouncement.
"We met Ginebra twice and we lost twice so we haven't really been a rival to them because the only way you become rivals is if you win a championship against them. That's still something that we have not done and we'll try our best this time to do it," he said.
"We talk about stats we're 0-2 against Ginebra in the finals. This is our 27th conference in the PBA and we haven't won a championship. We know what we want, obviously the other team wants the same thing that we want. And because of that, it will be a great series," he added.
Ginebra counterpart Al Chua begged to disagree.
"Matagal nang kumita yang underdog underdog na yan," said Chua. "They beat TNT. The team of Meralco and coach Norman Black did a very good job beating them."
The coaching battle between Black and Ginebra's mentor Tim Cone also makes for an exciting subplot to this series.
"In this competition, you see two coaches who work hard, plan everything," said Chua, who had the opportunity to work with Black before and now with Cone.
"Parehong hardworker, napakagandang laban nito. I think Ginebra didn't make the finals for the last three conferences so pare-parehong gutom."
"Umpisa pa lang ito bakbakan na. The players are thinking players, they're very, very good. At the same time, parehong coaches na grand slam (winners) ang magbabangggan," said Chua.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said it's the fans who will emerge as the big winner in this "dream matchup" that attracted a record-high 54,086 crowd the last time it played in 2017 at the Philippine Arena.
"Wala ka nang hahanapin pa - andito lahat ng drama, lahat ng aksyon, lahat ng pwedeng mangyari sa dalawang teams na ito," said Marcial.
"Dalawang grand slam coaches pa ang magkikita. Ang kagandahan sa series na ito pag umabot ito ng Game 6 or Game 7, alam ko na sinong panalo dito - ang fans. Makikita nila yung pagka-gilas ng players, yung pag-gawa ng game plans ng mga coaches, pagpalit ng strategies ng coaches. Ito yung isa sa dream matchup ng PBA finals, Ginebra at Meralco," he added.
In anticipation of the huge turnout, the PBA has set Games 6 and 7, if necessary, at the country's biggest indoor arena, the Philippine Arena. Source : PBA.PH