Joe Devance vs Jared Dillinger. Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net
Jared Dillinger and Joe Devance posed side by side with one of their fists clenched and their faces wearing a mean mug like how two boxers would when they face off ahead of a bout.
The two joked about not liking each other.
“Do I like Joe? No, I don’t. But you know, we try to keep it classy as much as we can. I’m sure he’s going to hit me a couple times in the game and I’m gonna hit him back so ya’ll better believe that it’s going to be war,” Dillinger told reporters during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals press conference Tuesday.
READ: With no chance for revenge, Dillinger tells TNT: Beat Ginebra
Dillinger guaranteed a bloody duel against the crowd favorites in a series that he is taking personally.
Kidding aside, the much-awaited finals rematch between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco could really be a 12-round slugfest.
Jared Dillinger talks to the media during the pre-finals press conference Tuesday. PBA IMAGES
“It will [be personal]. Like I know It’s all fun and games and we’re all laughing but in the heat of the moment, in the game, when money is on the line, legacies on the line, championship on the line, it’s going to be that. It’s going to be a lot of blood out there, I promise you. It’s going to be a great series,” Dillinger said.
Last year, Ginebra beat Meralco for the title on a buzzer-beating triple by Justin Brownlee in Game 6.
“I’ve honestly been dreaming about this. No disrespect to the other teams but if, you say Talk ‘N Text beat Ginebra and we had to play Talk ‘N Text, I wouldn’t be as satisfied if we won,” said the 33-year-old swingman, who has been very vocal about wanting to face Ginebra in the finals anew.
READ: Devance on Ginebra-Meralco rivalry: ‘We hate each other’
“Like, just the way they beat us and I couldn’t be there to help the team, it was really tough on me. It’s just so surreal right now. I can’t wait to just take it to those guys like that’s all I think about.”
Dillinger’s dream was fulfilled but he’s been having sleepless nights since. He missed last year’s title series due to hamstring injury and there’s no other player who’s raring to go than him.
READ: Ginebra, Meralco expect ‘tough, rough’ finals series to go the distance
“I think we’re just excited at this point. We just wanna play already. It’s been so long since we got a rematch in the finals and finally it’s real and I’m not sleeping. I woke up at 3 a.m. ready to go. Just anxious for this thing to start already.”