Game 1 not a gauge in PBA finals

The icebreaker in the PBA finals between Alaska and Talk ‘N’ Text is by no means an indication of which team will eventually win the championship. Last night’s Game 1 winner broke out of the gates for a head start but for opposing coaches Tim Cone and Chot Reyes, that’s hardly significant.

In the last two finals where Cone and Reyes squared off, the Game 1 winners went on to lose both series. That’s why the rival coaches aren’t inclined to get comfortable with an early cushion. Cone and Reyes are masters of adjustment – they’re deadliest when counterpunching.

In the 2002 All-Filipino Cup, Cone was with Alaska and Reyes with Coca-Cola when the Aces and Tigers slugged it out in the best-of-5 finals. Alaska took the opener, 70-67, then Coca-Cola swept the next three outings, 72-69 in OT, 62-60 in OT and 78-63, to bag the crown. Jeffrey Cariaso played for the Tigers in the series – now, he’s with Alaska. Ali Peek suited up for the Aces – now he’s with Talk ‘N’ Text.

In the 2003 Invitationals best-of-3 finals, the trend was the same. Coca-Cola got the jump on Alaska in Game 1, 94-81, then Alaska won the next two encounters, 78-76 in OT and 91-86, to clinch the title. Peek was named the best player of the finals. Now, he’s playing for the Tropang Texters in his first finals appearance since moving from Alaska to Coca-Cola and finally, to Talk ‘N’ Text.

Overall, Cone and Reyes have faced off in four finals. Reyes drew first blood, leading Purefoods to the 1994 Commissioner’s Cup diadem via a 4-1 conquest of Alaska. Cone got back at Reyes to pilot Alaska to the 1996 All-Filipino Cup on a vengeful 4-1 romp over Purefoods. Then came the 2002 and 2003 series.

Cone and Reyes go back a long way. Reyes was Cone’s assistant at Alaska from 1990 to 1992. When Cone led the national team to the bronze medal at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games as head coach, Reyes was his chief lieutenant. And when Reyes called the shots for the national team at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tokushima in 2007, Cone returned the favor.

Beyond the coaches’ personal attachment, Cone’s wife Cristina and Reyes’ wife Cherry are close friends and business partners. They’re involved in the popular Essensuals Toni and Guy franchise salon in Makati. During the finals, they agreed not to keep in touch.

Cone, 51, has been at the Alaska helm since 1989 and is the PBA’s longest-tenured coach. Reyes, 45, coached Purefoods (1993-96), Sta. Lucia Realty (1997), Pop Cola (2000-01), Coca-Cola (2002-05) and San Miguel Beer (2006-07) before transferring to Talk ‘N’ Text.

Cone is shooting for his 13th PBA title and ranks second only to Baby Dalupan in most championships won. The Maestro has 15 crowns. Reyes has pocketed four titles, two with Purefoods and two with Coca-Cola.

Reyes is looking to become the first PBA coach to win All-Filipino titles with three different teams while Cone will surpass Dalupan’s all-time mark of 601 career wins if he takes the crown.

Not a single player in the Alaska title team of 2003 is left with Cone as Peek is now with Talk ‘N’ Text. The Tigers team that lost to Alaska in the 2003 invitationals finals listed two players now with the Aces – Cariaso and Reynel Hugnatan.

For former national players Tony de la Cruz and Ren-Ren Ritualo, this is their first finals. They missed playing in the 2007 finals because of their commitments with the national squad.

In the 2007 Fiesta Conference finals, Alaska outlasted Talk ‘N’ Text, 4-3, for the title. Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, Cariaso, John Ferriols and Hugnatan are the only Alaska players held over from the 2007 cast. The Texters were then coached by Derick Pumaren and the holdovers are Mac-Mac Cardona, Yancy de Ocampo and Harvey Carey.

Cardona said his motivation in the finals is to get back at Alaska for beating Talk ‘N’ Text for the 2007 Fiesta Conference championship. (Data provided by PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.)