Ginebra took Game 1 handily, but coach Tim has a Calvin Oftana problem to solve.
On their way to a 102-90 Game 1 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel outrebounded TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors’ Cup finals opener on Sunday, 60 to 51. They also held the conference top seed to a lowly 38% shooting from the field.
Those may have been caused by several factors, and one should be the size advantage of Ginebra over TNT. The Manny V. Pangilinan-owned squad started the finals already missing the services of former MVP Kelly Williams, and then they lost center Justin Chua to injury just three minutes into Game 1.
TNT's lack of big men may have given the San Miguel Corporation franchise an edge, but coach Tim Cone is looking at it from another angle.
“They’re missing Kelly Williams. Without Kelly to back up Poy [Erram] or Poy backing up Kelly they have to go small against us and that causes problems for us in terms of matchups,” said Cone.
The PBA’s winningest coach was specifically referring to TNT’s star wing Calvin Oftana, who showed his versatility by playing some minutes at power forward.
The steady play of the 6-foot-5 cager, who’s not exactly new to playing big, reminded Cone of the dynasty of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.
Fans may know Golden State's small ball unit as the “Death Lineup” or later on, the “Hamptons Five.” In this lineup, forward Draymond Green plays center, and another wing, like Kevin Durant or Andre Iguodala, plays the four. In the earlier editions of the Dubs, it was forward Harrison Barnes who played power forward.
For TNT, that's Oftana at the four spot.
“Calvin at the four is really tough,” said Cone. “He really causes all kinds of mismatches and they are super quick, kinda like the death squad of Golden State Warriors when they all play small.”
The champion coach, however, knows Ginebra can also capitalize. Well, they already won the first of the seven-game series. If small ball has its pros, it also has its cons. And it will now boil down to Tropang Giga or Team NSD playing their cards right.
“But it also causes problems for them as well. It’s basically whoever is going to take advantage of that situation,” he said.
Ginebra is off to a good start, and TNT will have time to game plan and adjust, as they hope to win Game 2 on Wednesday, 5:45 p.m.