Game Today (Mall of Asia Arena)
8 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs San Mig Super Coffee
Manila, Philippines – San Mig Super Coffee’s bid for a Grand Slam gets an ultimate acid test when it battles Rain or Shine in Game One of the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup Finals today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Gametime is at 8 p.m., with the Mixers looking to join the legendary Crispa Redmanizers (1976 and 1983), San Miguel Beer (1989) and Alaska Milk (1996) in the exclusive pantheon of Grand Slam champions.
“It’s always a tremendous challenge going against coach Yeng [Guiao]. This team (Rain or Shine) is prepared (for the Finals),” said San Mig coach Tim Cone in yesterday’s pre-Finals press conference at the Sambokojin Restaurant in Eastwood City, Libis.
“I’ve always said they (Elasto Painters) played more like the San Antonio Spurs more than any team in the league,” Cone added. “I mean that by saying whether they are down 20 points or they are up by 20 points, they play the game the same way. And that’s the goal we try to achieve, but they do it regularly,” he added.
San Mig advanced to the best-of-5 championship by beating Talk ‘N Text, 3-2, in the semifinals, while Rain or Shine made it by defeating hobbled Alaska, 3-2, in the other semis.
It will be the third time in three years that both teams will dispute the title. Rain or Shine beat then B-Meg Llamados in the 2012 Governors’ Cup Finals, 4-3, while San Mig returned the favor in the Philippine Cup championship, 4-2.
“We’re not trying to deny or disrupt history,” said Guiao. “We’re just trying to write ours by winning more championships.” (Tito S. Talao)