The Noob's Guide to the PBA Commissioner's Cup

Game on!

By Ivan Saldajeno

RIVALRY renewed!

That's the catchphrase of this year's PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between San Miguel and TNT starting on Wednesday.

In line with it, here are some things you may need to know about this titular series.

Rivalry Renewed

Let's start with the lead of this Noob's Guide. The Beermen and the KaTropa are the flagship teams of the SMC and the MVP Group umbrellas, making a playoff series involving them a must-watch especially that their companies' reputation basketball-wise is on the line as well. However, while it was just last conference when they last played in a playoff clash, it was actually in 2011 when they actually last faced off in the Finals. One thing is in common about both series: SMB got to four wins first.

Back in the Finals After a Long Time

San Miguel may have been a powerhouse squad in recent years thanks to a star-studded lineup led by Junemar Fajardo, Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, and Marcio Lassiter, but none of them was in the PBA yet when the team last made the Commissioner's Cup Finals in 2001. However, that team fell at the hands of Red Bull.

Who's gonna play for TNT?

The question that lingers the PBA fans in general right now. Joshua Smith revealed that he has a ligament tear in his right foot that somehow slowed him down in TNT's last two games against Ginebra. The team, alerted of the injury bug, flew in a backup in Mike Myers, who last played in Italy. But with TNT finishing off Ginebra on a Saturday and the finals not starting until Wednesday, that would mean three days of ample rest for Smith. In fact, Smith showed in the pre-finals press conference at the Sambokojin Restaurant in Quezon City on Monday, hinting that he might suit up in Game 1. But... Who knows?

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno