FIREWORKS are expected when TNT and Ginebra square off in the Big Dance of the mid-season tourney.
The PBA, led by Commissioner Willie Marcial, is leaving no stone unturned in the Commissioner’s Cup finals—especially with officiating.
“Kahit hindi finals may issue. Nagsimula kami with 20 referees, pagdating ng quarterfinals naging 16, semifinals nag-14,” Marcial said. “Baka dito sa finals eight to 10 referees na lang. Tingnan natin.
“Ginagawa naman ng technical committee. Nagsususpindi tayo at ngayon, hindi sila iyong luluhod, ako ang luluhod sa kanila. Tama na reklamo,” he added in jest.
The opening match of the best-of-7 titular showdown is set for tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Game 1 will also mark the pro league’s first game at the billionaire Sy family-owned venue since May 26, 2024, when the Kings held off the Meralco Bolts 89-84 in Game 5 of last season’s Philippine Cup semifinals.
“Game 1 and 2 sa MOA Arena tayo kasi iyong ibang mga venues nahihirapan naman tayo sa schedules. May mga concerts, may mga iba’t ibang events sila kaya nahihirapan tayo,” Marcial said. “Ngayon, naibigay sa atin iyong Game 1 and 2 sa MOA so talagang kinuha na natin. “Kasi iyong Araneta, Games 5, 6, 7, ibinigay din satin. Iyong Game 3 sa PhilSports. Game 4 sa Ynares (Antipolo.)
“So, iyon ang sinasabi ko, nahihirapan tayo sa schedules. Nahihirapan tayo hindi lang sa schedule, nahihirapan tayo sa venues. Kung ano iyong pinaka-magandang available kinukuha natin.”
Getting the feel of playing anew at the MOA Arena should not pose a big problem for the protagonists—they simply have to jive and show up with their A-Game on the defensive end, according to league chairman and TNT team governor Ricky Vargas.
“As coach Chot (Reyes) said, in the end, it’s chemistry. I think I heard that also from coach Tim (Cone) when I was part of Gilas. He talked about chemistry, he talked about playing together. Both teams tested that and the one that tests better chemistry will probably have the edge,” he said. “The other thing is because chemistry is playing together, right?
