Walking into Game 2 of the PBA Finals, I can’t help but recall Carlo Biado’s recent comments after Day One of the Reyes Cup. He admitted he didn’t expect Team Asia to jump to a 4-0 lead over Team Rest of the World—honestly, neither did I. But what struck me was his emphasis on setting the tone early. That’s exactly what we’re looking at here in the PBA Finals. Momentum isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a tangible force that can define a series, and after Game 1, we’ve already seen glimpses of what could become a dominant narrative.
Let’s talk matchups. I’ve been covering basketball for over a decade, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that individual duels often decide these high-stakes games. In the backcourt, the clash between the lightning-quick point guards is going to be pivotal. On one side, you’ve got a playmaker averaging around 9.2 assists per game this season—a number that, while impressive, might not fully capture his ability to break down defenses when it matters most. I’ve always favored guards who can control the tempo, and he’s shown he can do that under pressure. On the other side, there’s a defensive specialist who’s been quietly locking down opponents, holding them to just 38% shooting in the paint during the playoffs. That’s a stat I find fascinating because it speaks to discipline, something Biado’s Team Asia clearly demonstrated by not letting the Rest of the World gain any foothold early on.
Then there’s the battle in the frontcourt. I’ll be honest—I’m slightly biased toward the underdog here. One team’s power forward, though not the flashiest, has been pulling down 11.5 rebounds per game, with 4.2 of those on the offensive glass. Those second-chance points are pure gold in finals basketball, and I’ve seen games turn on just one extra possession. His counterpart, however, brings a finesse game that’s hard to ignore, shooting 52% from mid-range. But here’s my take: in a physical series like this, grit often trumps grace. If the underdog can impose his will early, just like Team Asia did by going 4-0 up, we might see a shift in control that carries through the entire game.
Off the ball, the three-point shooters will have their moments. One wing player hit 44% from beyond the arc in the semifinals—a staggering figure, even if it’s from a relatively small sample size of about 80 attempts. But in Game 1, he was held to just 2-of-7 shooting. That’s where adjustments come in. From my experience, finals series are as much about coaching as they are about player execution. The team that lost Game 1 will likely run more screens to free up their shooters, maybe even tweak their rotation to include an extra ball-handler. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a 10-15% increase in three-point attempts in Game 2, because when you’re playing catch-up, sometimes you have to risk it all.
Defensive schemes will play a huge role too. One team has been using a zone defense for roughly 30% of their possessions, which I think is a smart move against isolation-heavy opponents. But let’s not forget how Biado’s squad set the tone—by being aggressive from the jump. If the trailing team can replicate that energy, maybe force 5 or 6 turnovers in the first quarter alone, they could swing the momentum. Personally, I love when teams come out with high pressure; it makes for entertaining basketball and often leads to explosive runs.
As we approach tip-off, I keep circling back to that 4-0 lead from the Reyes Cup. It wasn’t just about the score—it was about sending a message. In the PBA Finals, Game 2 will be about response. The team that lost Game 1 has to answer, not just with strategy, but with heart. Based on what I’ve seen, I’m leaning toward a close contest, maybe decided by 5 points or fewer, with the underdogs covering the spread. But whatever happens, the key matchups we’ve discussed will shape the outcome. In finals basketball, every possession tells a story, and I have a feeling this one’s going to be worth remembering.
