Game today
Mall of Asia Arena
7 p.m.- Alaska vs. San Miguel
Game 1, Best-of-Seven Finals
ONE TEAM is out for vengeance, the other is gunning for validation. The return bout is on.
Two of the league’s most successful teams begin their title showdown as the Alaska Aces and the San Miguel Beermen collide in Game 1 of the Best-of-Seven Finals of the 40th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Both Alaska and San Miguel are in the finals for the second time this season as they figured in an epic championship showdown in the Philippine Cup. The Beermen won the title series in a gripping seven-game series.
READ: Cebuano Fajardo likely to win MVP plum anew
Just like in their previous championship showdown, this could be another terrific encounter of two of the league’s storied franchises.
The Beermen are on their league-best 35th finals appearance and are looking to snatch their 21st title. The Aces are contending for the crown for the 28th time, the second-most in the league, and are seeking their 15th crown.
Both powered by prolific imports, the two squads are considered evenly matched. They both finished the elimination round with eight wins and three losses. Alaska earned the number one seeding in the playoffs by virtue of their 82-77 win over the Beermen in their elimination round encounter in Panabo City last June 20.
Alaska’s import Romeo Travis is averaging 24 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per outing, while San Migue’s dread-locked reinforcement AZ Reid is good for 28.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.18 steals a game.
Fatigue could be an issue for the Beermen as they just played last Wednesday, where they disposed of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 117-110, to wrap up their best-of-five semifinal series.
Alaska earned a four-day break after it completed a 3-0 sweep of the defending champions Star Hotshots in their own Final Four duel.
“Game One is always important in a series. Problemado kami considering Alaska enjoyed the luxury of some rest, where they were able to scout our game,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “We didn’t have the benefit of time to scout them.”