And the team is brimming with confidence, some players hinting they’re willing to settle the fight for the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown in a one-game playoff.
The Thunder can’t be faulted for the kind of confidence they’re showing following a great run in the eliminations that carried over like a killer wave in the playoffs, sweeping the Shell Turbochargers and the San Miguel Beermen.
In contrast, the Phone Pals went through the proverbial eye of the needle to make it to the final.
Talk N Text coach Bill Bayno likened the title playoff, which starts Friday at the Astrodome, to the last NBA finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets. He said Red Bull is the Lakers and his team the Nets.
Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao admitted they’re the favorites although he expects the series to go down the wire.
"Ang tingin ko sa imports matchup halos pareho lang size-wise and talent-wise. There may even be nights when their imports will outplay ours. I think my big advantage is my local players. It’s obvious they’re more consistent and do not play individually but as a team," said Guiao.
Said Bayno: "We have to play the series of our lives to beat them. They’re big, strong and quick. And they’re practically playing with four imports with the talents being shown by Davonn Harp and Willie Miller."
"We have to figure it out how to battle them off the boards. At the backcourt, they’re as much deeper as they can stretch their rotation up to six men," Bayno also said, referring to Miller, Lordy Tugade, Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela, Vince Hizon and Anton Villoria.
On Harp, Bayno said the hulking Fil-Am player should be in any of the top four US collegiate teams if he’s playing in the US NCAA today.
Guiao is in an unfamiliar situation, playing the role of the favorite in the finals for the first time. He said: "Hindi tayo sanay dito pero okay din naman. My big concern is the health of the team. Eh, okay naman lahat, so I think we have a good chance here."
The Thunder are all in top shape. Julius Nwosu is nursing a bruised left hand but he doesn’t think it will affect his game in the finals. "Kaya nga gusto namin sana walang pahinga. Laro na kaagad. Of course, lamang kami doon dahil nakapagpahinga kami habang nakikipag-knockout pa sila versus Alaska," said Guiao.