SHAM. Fixed. Scripted. Prearranged. Teleserye. Circus. Biyahe.
Those are just some of the harsh words thrown around by suspicious fans on social media in conspiracy theories that the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between San Miguel and Ginebra has been 'pre-arranged' to go the distance.
The growing suspicion is understandable, of course, considering the Beermen and the Gin Kings have fought to a 2-2 standoff through four games decided by - yes, you read it right - an average winning margin of 30.25 points.
It didn't help that the PBA Finals combatants are sister teams under the giant San Miguel Corp. conglomerate.
But is there really collusion?
We asked Commissioner Willie Marcial, who said he was well aware of talk on social media that the SMB vs Ginebra finals has been 'fixed' to reach a winner-take-all Game 7, supposedly for profit purposes.
Afterall, the first four games of the best-of-seven finals drew the biggest turnout in the midseason conference. The series is drawing an average of 12,710 fans per fame, with a high of 15,042 in Game 2 last Sunday.
At its current pace, Game 5 should draw an even bigger crowd on Sunday and a record turnout is almost certain if the series reaches a Game 7, that is if a plan to hold it at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan pushes through.
But sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists, Marcial said he doesn't see any sign of collusion.
Asked about the four lopsided games in the finals, Marcial pointed to the field-goal shooting of the winning team in all four games which showed Ginebra making 61 percent of its shots in the Game 1 victory, SMB hitting at a 58% and 51% clip in winning Games 2 and 3, and Ginebra making a fiery 64% in the Game 4 romp on Friday night.
The affable commissioner also pointed to Chris Ross making seven three-pointers in Game 3 for the Beermen and Justin Brownlee converting 15 of 18 shots in Game 4.
"When you make shots like that, you'll really be tough to beat," Marcial said. "Kaya kung titingnan mo ang mga games (sa finals), usually yung lumamang hindi na inaabot dahil ang ganda ng shooting."
Marcial also pointed to the animosity between the two camps and the many times security staff had to step in to maintain order. Just last Friday, he had to summon both Renaldo Balkman and Joe Devance after a halftime shoving match.
"I just reminded them to keep their cool," he said without going into details.
That, for sure, don't look like two teams in collusion.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
