Bay Area is an imba squad.
The only way the Philippines can outplay an imba squad is by pitting it against our imba squad.
Sure, the Dragons are probably a second-tier Chinese team since most of their big-time players are playing in the CBA, but this is a step in the right direction.
Bay Area whooped the asses of at least 80 percent of PBA teams in the tourney with the SMC teams being the most credible threats. I don't know if the Commissioner's Cup is the right conference for foreign teams since their availability can be an issue. The conference runs in the middle of the NBA season (the basketball calendar FIBA is following for superstar participation) and I don't know if leagues are willing to lend their top squads.
But we need this. The Philippines versus any random team is shown at its best because Bay Area is such a strong squad. They were designed basically to mess up with all the conduit teams but in the process, also got the number of the MVP group.
This is a coming-out party for Jamie Malonzo and while the threat of Jeremiah Gray becoming a shackled talent a la Chris Ellis still looms, maybe the championship would give him career growth. Justin Brownlee continues to amaze people and it feels as if the season will pit June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson for the MVP award.
Christian Standhardinger also deserves the Finals MVP award. There were instances when I miss the presence of Greg Slaughter because he was actually an important player at the start of Tim Cone's Ginebra run but this award solidifies his role even more.
Also, it's the seventh Ginebra championship for Thompson, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, and Aljon Mariano.
Congrats, Ginebra!