PBA stars give their take on NBA Finals rematch between Heat, Spurs

By: Mark Giongco - 10 years ago

AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Will it be the Miami Heat clinching a three-peat or the San Antonio Spurs getting redemption?

That’s the question even PBA stars couldn’t seem to provide an answer for just a couple of days before Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals tips off in San Antonio.

“I don’t know,” said San Mig Coffee import Marqus Blakely after a long pause.

San Miguel Beer import and former four-year NBA veteran Reggie Williams also couldn’t tell which team will come out on top in a rematch of last year’s finals series where it went the distance.

“I don’t know. You’ll never know. I thought San Antonio was going to win last year and we saw what happened so you just don’t know,” Williams said.

Blakely and Williams weren’t sure which team will win it tall but both talented imports offered interesting points on how the series may go down.

“The Spurs, I mean are very well coached. I see a lot of us the San Mig Coffee Mixers as the Spurs. A team that will run and execute and play defense. At the end of the year you still see them there whether you think they’re old or they don’t think they have the talent,” said Blakely.

“But at the same time, Miami is a huge, huge athletic team they like to run. They got a lot of mismatches too so it will be interesting to see what goes on. The Spurs have home court advantage and it’s going to be tough beating them but at the same time if there is a team to beat them it will be the Heat,” added Blakely.

The Heat’s athleticism will cause Spurs fits, Blakely also said.

“The biggest thing that they have a problem with is the athleticism of OKC. Which is times two when you look at the Miami Heat.”

For Williams, the pressure is on the Spurs with the first two games to be played on their home turf.

“If a team can win a game on the road that gives you an advantage. If you can go on the road and go 1-1, I think you’re in good standing going back to your home,” said the former Oklahoma City guard Williams.

Reigning MVP Arwind Santos, a Heat fan, thinks both teams are so evenly matched with both sides flaunting their respective Big Threes and solid bench play.

“I’m for Miami but these are two great teams and it’s really hard to tell which team is going to win,” said the SMB forward Santos.

While Blakely, Williams and Santos were unsure, Barangay Ginebra guards Jayjay Helterbrand and LA Tenorio think the Spurs will be able to get back at the Heat.

“I’m for the Spurs because I want Tim Duncan to get one before he retires and I really like their system,” Helterbrand said. “And I think they’re a better team than last year. And from their loss last year, when they lost to Miami and they still remember that and I don’t think they’ll let that happen again.”

“I’m biased for the Spurs because I’m a Spurs fan ever since,” Tenorio said with a laugh. “So I think this time the Spurs will get it done. I think their bench is more confident compared last time.”

Most see the series going down to seven games again but Tenorio, who idolizes Spurs’ crafty point guard Tony Parker, thinks the Spurs will win in 6.

But whatever the outcome may be, the sure winners will be no other than the fans.

“It’s really going to be an awesome series. Something to look forward to and I think the fans of basketball will be very happy. I’m just a fan and I’m also looking forward to watching,” Williams said.