INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Anyone wondering whether sister squads Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel would try to accommodate each other in this championship series better ask Olsen Racela what’s really up.

“Do you think I would give my (championship) bonus to them (Ginebra players)?,” Racela said matter-of-factly, when a scribe asked whether the best-of-seven series for the Motolite Fiesta Cup that starts Wednesday would be in any way fixed.

“Now, ask them (Ginebra players) if they will give their bonuses to us.”

Game 1 of “Sister Act IV” is at 7:30 tonight at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao with the Beermen having a huge edge in manpower and the defending champion Gin Kings playing, as usual, with a sixth man in the crowd.

“Even when I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to beat an elder brother (in a basketball game),” spitfire Ginebra point guard Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Racela’s counterpart, said.

“Once the ball goes up, that’s it, it’s going to be a war.”

Racela even joked about him not having any respect for the Kings, even recalling for everyone during the pre-Finals launch Tuesday in Roxas Boulevard how he felt that they were “robbed” the last time they met in a championship series.

“Right now, our team is focused on getting back (at Ginebra),” Racela, one of the oldest players in the league, added. “We felt na ninakawan kami noon (we felt we were robbed back then), when we were up 2-0 and then we lost.”

That series was Jong Uichico’s first championship with Ginebra, just one conference after he moved from San Miguel and they beat the Beermen in the next four games to take the Philippine Cup.

Uichico will be seeking to win his 10th championship overall and the first against Siot Tanquingcen, his able assistant in those days who, after winning two titles with the Kings before Uichico came along, has instilled his personality on San Miguel.

“Like in any playoff situation, the key will always be defense,” Tanquingcen, who is eyeing his first title with the Beermen and 18th championship for the PBA’s oldest franchise, said.

“We have to limit their good looks (at the basket).”

Uichico meanwhile, acknowledged the advantage that San Miguel has in virtually every aspect of their line-ups. And unlike last year when they won this tournament against Air21, the Beermen are also no greenhorns as far as title series play goes.

“The idea is to try and minimize their strengths,” Uichico said. “I believe in the little things that you have to do to win. Those little things could spell the difference.”

Ginebra won this tournament last year with a 7-foot import in Chris Alexander and will try to repeat with the versatile David Noel trying to offset the energy and athleticism of San Miguel’s Gabriel Freeman.

On paper, both teams could have an equal starting unit, but Ginebra will feel San Miguel’s depth as the game – and the tournament – wears on, with Tanquingcen having the luxury of going as deep as his 10th man.

Aside from Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid and Cyrus Baguio will be critical figures for the Kings, who will try to win this tournament for the second straight year with Mark Caguioa.

San Miguel, on the other hand, will have a distinct advantage in size, with Mick Pennisi, Jay Washington, Marc Pingris, Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena manning the lanes.

Burger King, which carried the name of Air21 last year, and Rain or Shine, in its finest tournament performance in three years in the PBA, battle for third place in the 5 p.m. contest.