The Final Score: Foul Shots and Foul Shooting in the PBA Finals

You all saw the anger on Tim Cone’s face at the end of Game 2. Moments after the final buzzer, Cone confronted Ramil Cruz, PBA Supervisor of Officials, as if Cruz just announced the cancellation of Christmas. It was an anger built up by frustration and exasperation. Cone was frustrated because his team squandered a big lead in the fourth period. He was exasperated because of a foul called on Joe De Vance with just seconds left. The foul, in Tim’s mind, allowed Purefoods to win by one point and the foul, if one were to ask proponents of the no-harm-no-foul rule, robbed fans of a better ending to a thrilling game.

Cone’s fury over that last-second call should have dissipated by now. If it’s still there, don’t expect him to show it during practice. His anger, however, over Alaska’s inability to seal the deal in the fourth quarter, will be in full display as the Aces prepare for Game 3. Cone cares little about better endings to big games. Only one kind of ending matters to a coach – a winning result. While a controversial call prevented Alaska from winning Game 2, other key factors led to Alaska’s second straight loss. To have Sonny Thoss dominate in the Finals is like asking someone to gulp down a scotch double with a straw. Thoss, who was sensational in the semifinals against Ginebra’s depleted frontline, is just as annoyed as Cone is. In Game 1, Thoss grabbed 14 rebounds but made only 3 field goals and committed a team-high 4 errors. In Game 2, Thoss snatched just 1 rebound, made only 3 field goals, played in just 14 minutes and committed 6 fouls. It must be maddening to fend off the combined tentacles of Reavis, Maierhofer, Pingris and Canaleta all game long. The last time Thoss fouled out of a game was January 15, 2010 against, you guessed it, Purefoods. For Alaska, something else is afoul aside from that last call on Joe De Vance in Game 2. Willie Miller is not having a good series. In truth, Miller isn’t having a great post-season. He made just 16/52 FG’s in the semis. Here in the Finals, Miller is shooting at a chilly 30% FG clip. For volume shooters like Miller, low FG percentages shouldn’t lead to panic. When your team is down 0-2, however, how a 2-time MVP shoots and scores against rugged defenders like Roger Yap and Pingris suddenly becomes a primary concern. We can debate all day about the validity of that last foul on De Vance. But in light of Purefoods’ now imposing 2-0 lead in the series, some issues are inarguable. De Vance must sink crucial free throws when games are on the line (remember his 2 missed free throws against TNT in the 2009 Finals?). Miller needs to make his scoring duel with James Yap a little more personal. And if Alaska’s defense fails to stop James Yap, Christmas for Purefoods might arrive earlier than expected. - GMANews.TV