After almost four months of basketball action, it is down to one blockbuster of a final game: Barangay Ginebra versus Bay Area at the cavernous Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
History is beckoning for coach Brian Goorjian and his troops. But PBA lore is also waiting to be written as coach Tim Cone and the Gin Kings take the floor for the 5:45 p.m. setto.
The Dragons could become the first guest team to win a PBA crown since Nicholas Stoodley of the United States in the 1980 Invitationals.
For the Kings, there is the opportunity to nail a 15th crown that will make them the league’s second-winningest team, breaking off a tie with Magnolia and Alaska Milk.
A mammoth crowd is expected for this match, many may well be licking their lips in anticipation of an explosive showdown between Justin Brownlee and Myles Powell.
The compelling storyline is right there: Brownlee is hoping to keep his perfect card in PBA finals while leading Ginebra’s bid to repel a foreign invasion. And he’s targeting championship No. 6, just two nights after formally becoming a Philippine local with President Marcos signing into law his naturalization.
Then there’s Powell who could be on his way to the PBA championship with a perfect 10-for-10 (10 wins in 10 games) showing.
Both could pull a moment of magic to decide the series.
But there’s also the supporting cast. The question is which side could chip in to the cause and help their team achieve ultimate glory.
It’s been a nip-and-tuck affair with Ginebra winning Games 1, 3 and 5 and Bay Area striking back in Games 2, 4 and 6.
The Kings had a chance to wrap up the series Wednesday, but Powell came to the Dragons’ rescue and was at his deadliest at the finish, keying their 87-84 escape.
And that set the stage for this winner-take-all which could boil down to a duel of courage, desire and determination.
The Kings have been there and done that. And that could be a little edge for veteran warriors like LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and Japeth Aguilar.
But there’s the Dragons’ excitement and enthusiasm for an experience they’ve never had before.
“That’s a dream come true for all of us,” said Bay Area playmaker Glen Yang, on playing before an expected huge crowd that may even surpass the five-year league record of 54,084.
“We always say it in the locker room. None of us have played in front of that many people, so we’re all excited. One game to win it all, you can’t ask for more than that.”
The Kings look forward to that, too – a big cheering crowd from which they could draw extra energy, extra punch and extra kick.
And all point to this game being an epic face-off. (From pba.com)
