SMB too strong for Phoenix?

THE PBA semifinals is still ongoing with defending champion San Miguel Beer leading their semifinals series with Phoenix.
Rain or Shine also enjoys the lead against Magnolia in the other best-of-seven semis series.
That’s two San Miguel squads in the Final Four.
Now this reminds me of a column I did early in the elims when I asked if parity is becoming a reality in the PBA.

Well, the Beermen and the Elasto Painters are both ahead but Phoenix and Magnolia can still pull off a surprise and steal a spot in the finals.
Possible but not probable.
Especially with that SMB-Phoenix series. I think the Beermen are too strong for the Fuel Masters.

I was able to watch live Game One of the SMB-Phoenix series at the Mall of Asia Arena and had a chance to interview both coaches: Leo Austria of SMB and Louie Alas of Phoenix.
I guess I have to go with what Leo was saying that with a complete and healthy team that he has now coupled with the fact that they have been in that situation for so many times (SMB has already collected 25 PBA titles), Leo believes their chances of winning again look good but refuses to discount a comeback by Phoenix in the series.

Well, if you look at the line up of San Miguel, it can masquerade as the national team with the likes of June Mar Fajardo, Christian Standhardinger, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Terrence Romeo.
That’s a rotation that can match up with any team on its own, plus the championship experience which to me is the team’s biggest edge against Phoenix, many will be surprised if the Beermen do not only enter the finals and add another all-Filipino crown to its collection.

Louie, on the other hand, told me that he really would have preferred a shorter series like a best of three where he believes his team will have a better chance against the Beermen, citing that championship experience I mentioned earlier. And from the looks of it, Louie will get his wish for a short series, unfortunately, in favor of his opponent.

Looking at the match up, I told him it was an upstart team, Phoenix, going up against a team , San Miguel, that has been there from the start, or a wanna be team against a team that has been there and done that. But I liked the spirit of Louie, saying he will definitely give championship jitters to the Beermen.

And true to his word, his team performed much better in Game Two than in the first game, controlling it for most of the time, until it mattered though in the closing minutes when again, experience proved to be the difference as the steadier team prevailed, Phoenix lost this game, 82-92, while in the first game, Phoenix lost 88-100 when the Beermen were in complete control and led by more than 20 points at one time.

For the other series between Rain or Shine and Magnolia, I am writing this just before Game Three is played but my prediction, it will also be a short series. The Elasto Painters seemed to be the hungrier team the way they are playing, hoping to taste another PBA title I am sure, and their defense has been shutting down the Hotshots’ offense.

Plus if you have people like Norbert Torres and Ed Daquioag topscoring, any opponent of Rain or Shine is in for a fight.

This time I am sure I will be able to watch a game or two in the finals, and yes, I am enjoying my comeback in the PBA beat, even if inconsistently at that.
See you at the games.