Alaska on a high after PBA semifinals sweep

Alaska coach Tim Cone is ready to face any team. Whether it’s going to be San Miguel Beer or Purefoods, is just fine with him.

What’s important he said is the mindset of his players who are aching to end their 10-year drought in an All-Filipino tournament which they hope to achieve in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“Both those teams are going to be a real tough match up for us,” Cone said after Alaska completed a four-game sweep on Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-seven Final Four series following a 102-95 win in Game 4 Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

SMB and Purefoods, sister teams together with Ginebra under San Miguel Corp. (SMC), on the other hand, are all tied up at 2-2 in their semifinal showdown after the Giants downed the Beermen in Game 4, 97-84, also last Wednesday.

Game 5 is set this Friday at the Big Dome.

“Honestly, we hope it goes to a Game 7, and couple of guys gets injured on both teams,” said Cone, which of course, was a statement made in jest.

“They get all beat up and we can maybe start off the first game like we did against Ginebra. We came into that series very fortunate.”

The Gin Kings dethroned the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters in a highly emotional and physical five-game series in the quarterfinals.

However, by the time Ginebra took on Alaska, coach Jong Uichico’s squad appeared to be tired against the well-rested and well-prepared team of Cone. The injuries to starting point guard Celino Cruz (sprained right ankle) and forward Eric Menk (groin) added to the Kings’ woes.

“I just had no idea that we’re going to able to do this (sweep), against a team like Ginebra, with the coaching staff of Jong. I have so much respect for him. To go out here and win four straight games was just an incredible feat,” he said.

Depending on the outcome of the series SMB-Purefoods, Alaska will have at least a week off before Game 1 of the best-of-seven Finals.

“It’s going to be us gathering ourselves, getting refreshed, coming back out and see if we can play similar basketball. I hope this gives us enough momentum and confidence to go out and battle against San Miguel or Purefoods,” said Cone who is seeking his 13th PBA title and his 12 is just three shy of Baby Dalupan’s 15.

“That’s what you hope for in this series. I can guarantee that we’re not going to the series over-confident. We know how good those teams are,” he added.

It was the first ever sweep in a seven-game series for the Wilfred Uytengsu-owned Alaska franchise, and only the fourth in league history.

Source: Waylon Galvez  | Manila Bulletin