Cone, Guiao favor long Philippine Cup title series

San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone feels his team has a better chance at beating Rain or Shine in closely-contested games.

MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone and Rain or Shine tactician Yeng Guiao are basically wishing for the same, long route to the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup championship.

After the Mixers had tied the best-of-seven series following an easy 80-70 Game 2 win Sunday night, it was surprising to hear both coaches saying that they’re not in a hurry to wrap things up.

If the title series does go the distance, which team will Lady Luck smile on?

“I just feel that we are evolving into a big-game team,” Cone said moments after the Mixers played with complete command to beat Rain or Shine for the first time this season.

“They are not afraid of playing any series. We feel that the closer it gets down to the end, the better chance we have because our guys are used to playing big games,” added Cone.

Despite taking one of his ugliest losses in the tournament, Guiao appeared before the media as cool as ever.

“I am not really worried,” said Guiao, itching to win his first all-Filipino crown. Guiao may be allergic to a short series, having been swept by Talk ‘N Text in the Finals last season.

GUIAO: Not worried

Cone, on the other hand, could be wanting a long battle with the Elasto Painters so he can put the bitter memories of a Game 7 defeat in 2012 to Guiao and Co. in the Governors’ Cup Finals behind him.

“We didn’t stand a chance in that game against Rain or Shine,” Cone had said in an earlier interview.

“We lost Marqus (Blakely, the Mixers’ import) in the last eight minutes and we were basically sitting ducks.”

Cone failed to mention though that the Painters played the final 5 and 1/2 games of that series without eventual Rookie of the Year Paul Lee because of a dislocated shoulder.

And Guiao spiced up that series by declaring—after going up 2-0—that “this series is (still) ours, with or without Paul Lee.”

Mercado for Cabagnot In a related development, talks are ongoing for a one-on-one trade involving Globalport’s Sol Mercado and Alex Cabagnot of San Miguel Beer (formerly Petron Blaze). This deal is expected to materialize Tuesday.

San Miguel has also named Biboy Ravanes as its new coach, starting next month in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Ravanes takes over Gee Abanilla, who was given the team manager’s post after failing to steer the Boosters to championships in the last two conferences.