Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Before his team locks horns with Alaska in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup finals, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria is wary of the well-rested Aces.
“We have no time to scout Alaska because focused on our series versus Rain or Shine,” said Austria, whose team outsted the Elasto Painters in four games to advance to the finals.
But apart from that, the champion coach has no other worries.
“Alaska is really playing well and they’re on a roll,” he said. “But I really feel there are many ways to beat them.”
A rematch of sorts between the two storied franchises in the PBA, the best-of-seven title match begins on Friday (July 10) at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alaska is gunning for its 15th title, while the Beermen hope to capture their 21st.
For his part, Alaska coach Alex Compton is expecting a series as intense as their Philippine Cup finals encounter.
But he is hoping for a different result.
“Our lineups are pretty much the same, except they have Gabby (Espinas) and Jay-R (Reyes), adding some size,” Compton, whose team succumbed to the Beermen in a bloody finals encounter with the Beermen two conferences ago.
“They’re a great team and hopefully for us, it will be a better result.”
He added, “We want to win and nothing else. Hopefully, we’ll find a way to win. We’ll do our best.”
With both teams relatively parading similar lineups, Compton said it will all boil down to imports Romeo Travis and Arizona Reid.
“The main story is about AZ (Arizona) Reid and Romeo Travis,” he said.
Incidentally, Travis, high school buddy of LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and San Miguel’s Reid are candidates for the Best Import Award.
So what will be the key to win what is billed to be a grudge match?
“Heart and will to win will be the big factors in the titles series,” said Austria.
