Coach Derrick Pumaren believes Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving will be the men to watch in the NBA Finals. David Richard/USA Today (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
SAN JUAN, MM--With the NBA Finals nearing, some of the well-known coaches gave their sentiments in the seven-game series between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For Perpetual Help coach Aric Del Rosario, he believes that the Cavs' physicality will help them get their very first NBA title and the first pro sports title for the city of Cleveland in 50 years.
"Tingin ko bubugbugin ng Cavs ang Warriors sa pisikalan," said the multi-titled mentor, who won four collegiate titles with UST during the mid-90's and a play-for-pay pennant with the Pampanga Dragons in the MBA in 1998, citing how the Cavs used their physicality to sweep the Atlanta Hawks in the East Finals.
However, Del Rosario, who has Cleveland over Golden State in six games, thinks the Oakland-based club can steal the series if the squad goes for a quick jugular.
"Kapag tumagal [ang series], masisilat ang Warriors," Coach Aric added.
On the other hand, UE coach Derrick Pumaren thinks that the hot-shooting Golden State can indeed pull a quick barrage and finish the series in five.
"If the Warriors continue to shoot the way they're shooting, I think Cleveland is in trouble," Pumaren, who has also been coaching since the 90's, said, adding that he hopes to instill the Warriors' run-and-gun game to his Red Warriors squad.
He added, "One thing that's nice with the Warriors is that even if you're up by 17 points, all of a sudden, just two three-point shots and they're back in the game."
He later revealed that the "points guard" showdown between reigning season MVP Stephen Curry, who led the Warriors to their first NBA Finals trip in 40 years, and Kyrie Irving could be the key in this series.
Pumaren explained, "As you can see now, sa NBA, there is no more old school point guard. They have a point guard who just bring down the ball and score."