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By Frank C. Calapre, Correspondent
BOTH Purefoods and Sta. Lucia Realty expect a
physical game when they face each other in Game 1 of their
best-of-seven title showdown for the 33rd Smart-PBA Philippine Cup
title Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Giants, bannered by 2006 MVP James Yap and
Kerby Raymundo, meet the Realtors at 7:20 p.m.
The battle for third place between Alaska and
Red Bull is set at 4:50 p.m.
Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio and Sta. Lucia
coach Boyet Fernandez refused to predict how long the series will
last but admitted that it’s going to be tough and physical.
“We don’t mind playing physical. What I
wanted to clarify is it should be consistent,” said Gregorio, who
is eyeing to give the Giants a fifth All-Filipino crown, a feat that
may tie them with the now-defunct Crispa Redmanizers.
Gregorio, owner of two conference titles
including an All-Filipino crown in 2006, said his team is prepared
for a physical game “as long as it’s fair to both teams.”
Fernandez, however, said the physical scenario
is part of the game and the Realtors are already conditioned to the
system being professional players.
“This is a professional league. That is how it
is being played here,” said Fernandez, who steered the Realtors to
their first All-Filipino finals. Sta. Lucia was third in 1995 and
1997.
Yap and Raymundo, the only Giants who made it to
the top 10 overall in the conference, refuted insinuations that they
are already tired because of playing too many minutes in the
best-of-seven semifinals against Red Bull.
“After reaching the finals, which is actually
our objective since the start of the conference, we did not feel any
fatigue anymore. The finals is already a different story,”
chorused the two members of the RP squad that played in the 2007
FIBA-Asia tournament.
Veterans Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino, both
members of the 2001 Governor’s Cup champion team, said they are
hungrier for the title after waiting for seven years.
“This is an All-Filipino. It’s really
different than the Governor’s Cup. That is why, we will do
everything we can to win the finals,” declared Sta. Lucia’s twin
towers.
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