By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Several Western Visayas-based sports personalities are favoring the Boston Celtics over the Dallas Mavericks in the 2023-2024 NBA finals, which will begin on Friday, June 7 (Philippine time) at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The majority of the coaches and sports personalities from the region interviewed by Watchmen Daily Journal yesterday saw the Celtics hoisting their 18th NBA championship trophy at the expense of the Mavericks.

Retired basketball coach Dexter Dy sees Boston winning the series.

“They have the NBA finals experience and home court advantage. Jrue Holiday is the one who will make a difference for the Celtics due to his championship experience, and his defense can also make life difficult for [Mavericks’] Luka [Doncic] and Kyrie [Irving] whoever he guards. Also, [Jayson] Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown can match up well with Luka and Kyrie,” Dy said. (Celtics in 6) 

Rene Bernil of the Tigbauan Ninjas said Boston is an experienced team, and they played solid defense, with Holiday leading them.

“They also got a lot of perimeter shooters with Brown, [Derrick] White and Jason. If [Kristapz] Porzingis is available, then it’s a win-win for Celtics. But the key there is defense. If they can neutralize Luka or Irving, it’s going to be a long road for the Mavs,” Bernil said. (Celtics in 6)

Meanwhile, Yong Despi, head coach of St. Joseph School-La Salle Bacolod, said both teams are underrated, but Boston will come out on top with the crown.

“Tatum and Brown are huge problems defensively for Dallas, and Boston also has the finals experience,” Despi said. (Celtics in 6)

Iloilo Scholastic Academy head coach Tata Belangel said Tatum and Brown would be “a big problem” for Dallas.

“Holiday and White will also be a match-up problem for Kyrie. They will try to contain him or limit a little bit, but they cannot stop him,” Belangel said.

“Al Horford is a big problem also for Dallas, [because of his] outside shooting at finals experience niya,” he said.

“On the part of Dallas, si Kyrie ang magiging edge nila because of his championship experience. Doncic also needs to play big in this series kasi he needs to play offense and defense. Coach Jayson Kidd will also give Boston a big problem when it comes to switching sa offense, and the role players of Dallas will play a big role because they need to support Kyrie and Luka,” he added. (Celtics in 6)

Jophil Cercado, University of San Agustin men’s basketball head coach, said Boston will have an edge over Tatum and Holiday.

“Both teams are organized and disciplined, but Dallas needs to contain or limit Tatum’s ball touches, and also needs a warm body to play physical defense on Boston players,” Cercado said. (Celtics in 6)

Moreover, Chairman’s Cup operations head Bayani Ladrido, said the Celtics have the edge because they are a more veteran team than Dallas.

“I have my bias in this series because I am a Celtics fan since birth. They have also reached the NBA finals once,” Ladrido said.

“‘Yung eight-player rotation ng Boston talagang maaasahan because they deliver whether on offense or defense,” he added. (Celtics in 4)

Iloilo United Royals playing team manager Jay Javelosa said both Dallas and Boston have a young core and veterans who can deliver when needed the most.

“I would say Boston has the advantage since most of them played in the finals already. [Sa] Dallas, si Irving lang,” he said. (Celtics) 

Elite Lab team manager Eugene Chua said Boston has experience in the finals.

“For me, advantage sa experience ang Boston, but hindi rin pwede balewalain ang Dallas kasi they have a deeper bench,” Chua said. (Celtics) 

Team Mavericks 

While most see the Celtics winning the series, there are also some who see the Mavericks taking home their first-ever NBA championship since the Dirk Nowitzki era.

Prandy Wong, Dingle National High School women’s basketball coach, said the Mavericks have Doncic on their side.

“Advantage talaga ng Dallas si Luka. I think no one from Boston can guard him. He is a basketball genius for me,” Wong said.

“X-factors ng Dallas talaga ang kanilang twin tower sa ilalim — [Daniel] Gafford and [Dereck] Lively [II] — both on offense and defense. Pero kung outside shooting ang pag-uusapan, para sa ‘kin lamang dun ang Boston.” (Mavericks in 7)

Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix head coach Vincent Conlu said the Mavericks have the edge over the Celtics because of Irving.

“He has championship experience and, I think, he can lead this team, especially in clutch situations,” Conlu said. (Mavericks in 6)

National Basketball Training Center Region 6 head Richard Gabayoyo said Dallas is “thirsty” to win the NBA championship.

“For me, the team that had good communication inside the court, the team with great tandem and the team with more thirst to win the championship will reign in the 2024 NBA finals, and that is Dallas Mavericks,” Gabayoyo said. (Mavericks in 6)

Meanwhile, Iloilo Province Sports Development officer Ray Cabarles said he sees no eminent Doncic stopper from the Boston side.

“[Doncic] can control and dictate the tempo of the game that Boston does not have,” Cabarles said.

“Dereck Lively is an X-factor for Dallas. He makes the team alive with his intensity in rebounds, defense and putting back dunks,” he added. (Mavericks in 6)

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts coach Atoy Callora, Jr. said he is up for Dallas.

“’Yung tandem nila Luka and Kyrie nasa different level talaga. Mahirap silang depensahan. But para sa Boston, their chances will depend sa maturity ni Tatum and Brown.” (Mavericks in 6)

Former TNT Tropang Giga player Francis Barcellano said Dallas would win the game.

“Doncic’s basketball IQ, and the way Irving has played for Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs will be a huge factor in this championship series,” Barcellano said. (Mavericks in 6)/ASC, WDJ