HEAT OR SPURS ? PBA COACHES, PLAYERS TAKE THEIR PICK

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PBA coaches and players have their eyes glued on the ongoing NBA Finals being contested by the defending champs Miami Heat and sentimental favorites San Antonio Spurs.

And it’s going to be Game 7 Friday for all the marbles.

Wise money bettors believe the Heat are the odds-on picks, especially after pulling of a dramatic come-from-behind victory in Game Six and forcing a do-or-die encounter.

But the Spurs have made believers out of the skeptics, getting career games not only from the top guns but from their shock troopers as well.

Either way, everyone has his reasons for taking sides as they all anticipate a classic finale.

LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Tony de la Cruz of Alaska, Mark Isip of Air21, former PBA Most Valuable Player and now San Miguel Beer (ABL) slotman Eric Menk and coaches Franz Pumaren, Jong Uichico and Ronnie Magsanoc are all for the veteran-laden Spurs.

“I am a Spurs fan kasi ever since. I want the Spurs to win, but it’s not going to be easy beating Miami at home,” said Tenorio in a text message to pba.ph.

Tenorio, however, believes Game Seven will be “anybody’s game.”

De la Cruz, team captain of the newly-crowned Aces, admitted to be an LA Lakers fan.

“To be honest, it’s anybody’s ball game and I am a Lakers fan,” added Dela Cruz. “But since they’re from the West, it’s going to be the Spurs for me.”

Isip is a big fan of Tim Duncan, which comes as no surprise why he had chosen the Spurs to win it all.

“Spurs because I’m a long time Tim Duncan fan,” he said.

Menk thinks the Spurs are a better team blessed with a better coach and came up with an interesting prediction come the no-tomorrow match.

“Spurs. They’re better and they have the better coach. I think LeBron James is gonna get tired,” said Menk.

For Pumaren, head coach of the Air21 Express, old dogs like Duncan, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker have a soft spot in his heart, which is the biggest reason why he picked the Spurs.

“This will be the last run for Duncan, GinobliI and Parker so I’ll go for the Spurs,” said Pumaren.

Gregg Popovich’s coaching style caught the fancy of Uichico and the multi-titled PBA mentor believes the Spurs still have it in their final game.

“I follow the Spurs because I am a Popovich follower,” said Uichico, coaching consultant of the Meralco Bolts. “I like the way he coaches his team.”

Magsanoc loves sentimental things and like many Pinoy fans, he picks the Spurs particularly because of their well-loved players – Duncan, Ginobli and Parker.

“It’s because of them,” said Magasanoc, referring to the Spurs’ big three. “I root for the older team to prevail, not because of the team’s strategy but simply because I am a fan.”

For the Heat, they are easily installed as the heavy favorites following their sensational victory via the backdoor – and for obvious reasons.

“I’ll pick Miami because the coach is a proud Pinoy,” said Ronald Tubid of Petron in a text message.

The scrappy swingman is referring to Erik Spoelstra, who traces his roots from San Pablo City and who rose from being a team video editor to becoming the head coach of NBA champion Miami.

“Noon pa, Miami na ako, so I will pick Miami to win,” added Gary David of GlobalPort.

PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes sees the advantages of Miami playing in its homecourt and momentum going its way following last Wednesday’s victory.

“Momentum plus homecourt advantage, it’s Miami,” said Duremdes.

His fellow legend and former Alaska teammate Jojo Lastimosa, however, doesn’t believe in momentum, what with the trend of alternate wins in the first six games of the series.

“I think balewala yung momentum. But I would still go for the Miami Heat because they’ve displayed good team play even though they have several stars on the squad,” added Lastimosa.

Topex Robinson, Alaska assistant coach and head coach of the San Sebastian Stags, feels playing at home in the final game of the series is a big advantage for any team.

“That’s the biggest advantage – playing at home and that’s what Miami has,” added Robinson.

For Rajko Toroman, coaching consultant of the Barako Bull Energy Colas, the Spurs blew their best chance of winning the title in Game Six and that’s the reason why he is choosing the Heat to win.

“Miami now has a psychological advantage and homecourt edge for the crucial game,” said Toroman. “And LeBron is in great shape. Miami should win. I hope that my friend Spoelstra would take the ring again.”

Norman Black, head coach of Talk N Text, is also a Spoelstra believer.

“He’s the reason why I’m for Miami. I’ll stick with him,” he added.

Luigi Trillo admitted he had picked the Spurs to win in Game Six, but in a do or die seventh game, he would pick the team with the homecourt advantage.

“I picked Spurs in Game 6 and Heat in 7. Heat because they have the homecourt advantage in the most important game of the series,” quipped Trillo, the head coach of  the newly-crowned PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion Alaska Aces. (RJ)

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