“The fans will be cheering for Ginebra,” said Toroman yesterday. “The gym will be full. I think it’s a good preparation for our team because those are the conditions we’ll face in China. We must get used to playing in front a crowd that’s cheering for the other team.”

Toroman said while winning the PBA championship is not a priority, Gilas is going all out for the title.

“Of course, our ultimate goal is to win the FIBA-Asia championship,” said Toroman. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t try to win the PBA title. We want to develop our team and get it ready for China, build up the confidence of our players. The only way to do that is to go out to play your best and win. That’s normal in basketball. We always play to win. We really appreciate what the PBA is doing for us, giving us the chance to play in the conference. We want to repay the PBA by playing our best and trying to win the championship.”

At presstime, it wasn’t certain if naturalized player Marcus Douthit would play in Game 1 today which happens to be his birthday. He injured his right hand in a game against Meralco in Tacloban last April 2. Last Monday, Douthit reported for practice and still felt pain in his shooting hand.

“Marcus had a check-up early this week and doctors found his injury had not healed,” said Toroman. “It’s 50-50 if he can play in Game 1. Maybe, he’ll miss the first two games and come back to play starting Game 3. It depends on what the doctors advise. We’ll wait for their green light. He’s now going to a hand specialist. He wants to play. We just want to make sure he won’t aggravate the injury. Remember that he’s not in the best shape with no practice in two weeks.”

Gilas has lost only two games in the conference and both were overtime cliffhangers that ended with Douthit on the bench. He was sidelined with a left ankle sprain in the third period with Gilas on top by six and B-Meg went on to win, 98-90, in extension last March 23. Douthit injured his hand in the first quarter and Meralco capitalized to beat Gilas, 91-87, in overtime.

Without Douthit, Toroman will lean on Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Aldrech Ramos and Jason Ballesteros to control the interior. Gilas barely beat Powerade, 98-97, with Douthit sitting out to rest his ankle the game after the B-Meg setback.

Douthit was dominant in Gilas’ 111-104 win over Ginebra in the eliminations last March 30, compiling 30 points and 17 rebounds. Five other Gilas cagers finished in double figures – Marcio Lassiter 21, Jvee Casio 16, Chris Lutz 15, Mac Baracael 11 and Aguilar 10. Skipper Chris Tiu didn’t play.

For Ginebra, the key is to control the middle. Nate Brumfield’s job won’t be as difficult if Douthit doesn’t play. Although Brumfield was held to a conference-low 12 points by Rain Or Shine last Wednesday, the Kings were unperturbed and looked sharp in hacking out a 92-82 decision. Ginebra’s efficiency was marked by an assist-to-turnover ratio of 25-to-8 compared to the Elasto Painters’ 17-to-14. When the Kings are sharing the ball, they’re at their deadliest. Mark Caguioa, Brumfield, Rudy Hatfield and Mike Cortez collected four assists apiece to highlight Gimebra’s passing brilliance.

Ginebra’s resilience is what should worry Toroman. Last Wednesday, Brumfield struggled from the field, Enrico Villanueva remained out of commission and Ronald Tubid was 0-of-7 from three-point distance. Still, the Kings coped and won with plenty to spare. That kind of never-say-die attitude of defying the odds is a Ginebra trademark Toroman will want for Gilas.

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Ginebra coach Joseph Uichico is itching to return to the finals against the winner of the Talk ‘N’ Text-Air21 series. In the previous conference, the Kings lost to San Miguel Beer, 4-2, in the semis and one of the losses was a double overtime thriller. Ginebra hasn’t won a PBA title in the last six conferences or since the 2007-08 Fiesta Conference.

At the end of the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations, Gilas was No. 1 in defense, field goal percentage, assists and blocked shots. Ginebra was No. 1 in three-point percentage and ranked ahead of Gilas in offense, free throw percentage (.763 to .668), rebounding, steals (Gilas in last place), turnovers (Gilas in last place with the most errors), second chance points (Gilas in last place) and turnover points.

The statistics show where Gilas is most vulnerable. Ginebra will no doubt exploit Gilas’ tendency to throw away possessions. The Kings are unforgiving in scoring off turnovers. In the Rain Or Shine clincher, Ginebra scored 18 turnover points to the Elasto Painters’ nine. And if Gilas isn’t dominant on the offensive boards, Ginebra will gain momentum to play transition. Gilas ranks last in offensive rebounds probably because Douthit is boxed out after he takes a shot and neither Aguilar nor Slaughter is able to move in from the weak side.

Uichico said like Toroman, he’s anticipating a dogfight. “It’s going to be tough playing against a young team that has gained a lot of experience playing internationally all these years,” said Uichico. “As for Nate, he has to learn to play through adversity.”

Brumfield was 4-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line last Wednesday but contributed 13 rebounds and four assists with only one turnover. He’s only 24 compared to Douthit who turns 31 today. It remains to be seen if Brumfield can play like Chris Alexander who led Ginebra to its last PBA crown in 2007-08.

Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star