By WAYLON GALVEZ
For Alaska Milk and Purefoods TJ Hotdogs the old cliché “defense wins games’ will really spell the difference in their best-of-seven title showdown in the Filipino KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
This was more evident during the two teams’ semifinals series which they won in contrasting fashions but with the use of the same gameplan – a terrific defense.
Since the time of their title campaigns in the 90s, until their last championship in 2007, the Aces are known to be a defensive-minded team, while the Giants have made their own mark as one of the best defense-oriented teams this conference.
“Playing defense is the reason why we’re in the Finals,” Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said in Monday’s press conference at the Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City. “It’s going to be the same mindset against Alaska.”
“They’re so sharp that I told my coaching staff not to come close to them. They’re so sharp we might get cut. We want to at least slow them down and take them away from their comfort zone,” he added.
Gregorio is also concerned with the Aces’ vaunted “triangle offense,” saying: “They are running the triangle so well. We really have to look for ways to break it, but it’s going to be tough.”
As for Alaska’s revered head coach Tim Cone, he said they have to find ways to counter the height and heft advantage of the Giants, whose towering frontline of Kerby Raymundo, Rafi Reavis, Marc Pingris, Don Allado, and Romel Adducul boasts an average height of 6-foot-6.
“It’s really about their length, and they were able to cover for each other. They’re not just tall and long, but they are quick,” Cone said.
“We’ve got to get our execution and make sure we get good looks. It will come down to defense winning the championship. Hopefully we can match them up stop-for-stop,” Cone said.
Posts
0 comments: