PBA: Barangay Ginebra vs Bay Area Dragons | 25 December, 5:00 PM (PST)

[Mary C]

Bay Area’s quest to conclude their PBA guest participation with a title will take them through one of the league’s top squads and its legions of supporters. Following their semifinal clinchers on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena, the Dragons and Barangay Ginebra set up an interesting showdown for the Commissioner's Cup trophy, with two accomplished coaches ready for a difficult challenge.   

On Christmas Day, the two sides begin their battle for the championship in a best of seven series that will be unfamiliar to Australia national Basketball League champion coach Brian Goorjian and the bronze medalist form the Tokyo Olympics. "Nothing but love for that squad, nothing but respect for Tim Cone," said Goorjian after Bay Area ended San Miguel Beer’s Grand Slam hopes by defeating them 94-92 in Game 4 of their semifinal matchup. “They dominated us the first time they played us; they dominated the semifinals; they dominated the quarterfinals; they dominated the end of their season.” 

The Dragons will attempt to join the list of visiting teams that have claimed PBA crowns, but the Kings will make the local teams’ final stand in this conference. The final of the teams was Northern Consolidated Cement (NCC), which the late, great coach Ron Jacobs and Dennis Still, a naturalized player for NCC, were friend's element to the Australian national team coach’s quest for the championship.  

The Kings delivered the Dragons their first setback here, defeating them 111-93. Despite entering the Finals as the favorite, the squad will still have the pain form that defeats. However, Bay Area has made significant improvement since then, as proven by the manner they defeated San Miguel in the race to three games, 3-1. The Dragons intended to keep expanding. Goorjian added, “I’m hoping we got better and hope we get an opportunity to practice till the 25th, and there’ll be no excuses.” “I’ve never gone to the NBA, and I've never played in a seven-game series.” In four games, Ginebra defeated Magnolia, their semifinal opponent, and Wednesday night’s 99-84 blowout guaranteed a finals spot. Cone is also not placing too much emphasis on the King’s victory over the Dragons in the elimination round.