Second straight PBA title for Cone?

By Al S. Mendoza

 

FATE just played a cruel joke on both Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra.

Petron stormed to a 7-game winning streak at the start of the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup, only to sputter before eking out a trip to the semifinals with a close win over upset-conscious Barako Bull.

But in the semifinals, Petron Blaze suddenly found Rain or Shine too tough to handle.

After falling 2-0 behind, Petron closed the gap to 2-1.

Then, after Petron got itself into a huge 3-1 hole, it totally gave up the ghost as Rain or Shine proceeded to produce a business-like 4-1 victory.

It was actually sweet revenge for Rain or Shine, which bowed to Petron Blaze in a similar semifinal clash in the PBA Governors Cup only last December.

Petron Blaze had golden chances to win the crown last Christmas but, again, it fell short as San Mig Coffee, behind coach Tim Cone’s uncanny ability to author escape acts, captured a dramatic 4-3 victory.

Thus, while Petron Blaze, with a powerful lineup anchored on 6-foot-10 Jun Mar Fajardo, would exit bitterly, San Mig Coffee would advance with flourish via a sterling 110-87 triumph over Barangay Ginebra in Game 7.

And while Petron Blaze was still smarting from that painful 4-1 loss to Rain or Shine, Ginebra will reflect on that embarrassing loss to San Mig Coffee long after its ouster.

Fine that Petron Blaze was removed by elimination runnerup Rain or Shine but then, isn’t Ginebra the proud elimination topnotcher before it met San Mig Coffee?

And to also think that the Mixers were a mere No. 5 in the rankings in that they had to defeat defending champion Talk ’N Text to make it to the semifinals, they ought to be in the Finals, indeed.

And for San Mig Coffee to oust Ginebra, the darling of the crowd, adds further to the Mixers’ growing myth of invincibility.

I wrote this hours before Game 1 between San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine could start on Friday.

The winner’s sole benefit attained two nights ago was purely psychological as the best-of-seven Finals will take virtually an eternity to finish.

Game 2 tonight (Feb. 16) will be an all-important clash to the Game 1 victor as nailing a 2-0 lead would be a big psychological boost.

But between Cone of San Mig Coffee and coach Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine, my beer money goes to Cone capturing his second straight PBA title in three months.

Cone’s too good that comparing him with Guiao is like comparing one with a doctorate degree in physics against one who has yet to finish high school.

I could be wrong, of course.

Isn’t sports the perennial factory of suspense thrillers?

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