MUCH as Tim Cone would like to think that his Alaska Aces are the No. 1 seed, he couldn’t stop wondering what people think of their best-of-7 semi-finals series against Ginebra.

He believes people regard Alaska as a team that doesn’t look as good as its (12-6, win-loss) record after the 18-game eliminations. He implies that people see the Gin Kings a much better team now after their classic triumph over dethroned champion Talk ‘N Text, with the momentum they gained coming in as an emphatic lift against a ball club that hasn’t played in 18 days.

Yet for a man who owns the record for the most number of wins in the PBA and one who had been through tough times over and over again, Cone doubts whether Ginebra can last a long Final Four series and make it all the way to the Finals.

“We’re better than what people think. We believe we’re going to win,” said Cone.

Sounding confident in every aspect and all set to face the challenge of a Ginebra team that’s at its peak, the top-seeded Alaska Aces begin a quest of trying to reach a second straight stint in the Finals of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup as Game 1 of the semi-finals kicks today at the Araneta Coliseum.

It’s been quite a while since Alaska had an official ballgame. What it did during the break since barging to the semi-finals outright last Jan. 22 was to play a series of tune-up matches against San Miguel Beer, the No. 2 seed. The Beermen also start their own semis series against Purefoods tonight, the first series confrontation since these two became sister teams in 2001.

While there’s no doubt how interesting the SMB-Purefoods match-up is, the greater attention still lies on whether the Kings can win a second straight series, this time against a team that’s well known for its systematic offense and discipline rather than a ball club that relies on heavy scoring and running like the Tropang Texters.

“Our road is the toughest, having to play teams that figured in the championships in the Philippine Cup last season,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “We found a way to beat Talk ‘N Text, now our problem is how to find a way to beat Alaska.”

Ginebra’s achievement in eliminating the Texters in the walkout-marred quarter-finals was, in itself, already impressive. Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa were hurt – and are still are – yet unearthed a prized find who may well be the very same man who will carry the Kings.

JC Intal will no longer be a man ignored. The former Ateneo standout who electrified the crowd and ripped the Texters’ defense will absolutely be a marked man in the semi-finals. Excluding the Game 4 win (forfeiture), Intal averaged 23.75 points and 7.25 rebounds, including a career-high 28-point, 10-rebound effort in the clinching Game 5.

Cone didn’t bare any plans on how to defend Intal individually. What he did bare was his concern over the long break, having already experienced a breakdown shortly after the Aces took a similar long lay-off during Christmas.

“That is something we have tried to address and we think the guys are ready now to play their best basketball,” said Cone in the team’s website. “I think we got a little out of shape after the long break last time. We’ve really pushed hard during this break so I think we’ll be getting down the floor faster in the next series.”

Incidentally, this is the first time in 13 seasons that Alaska and Ginebra will square off in a series. The last time these two teams met was in the Finals of the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup won by then Gordon’s Gin under playing coach Robert Jaworski, Sr.

Like Alaska, San Miguel Beer is having worries over the long respite. It hasn’t seen action since Jan. 16, a controversial 93-91 loss to Talk ‘N Text in Zamboanga City, or for 24 days.

“The long lay-off will be a factor of course especially early in the series,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen. “However, we just have to figure out a way to get through it no matter what. Purefoods is a tough team, they’ve got height, length and quickness, and they’ve got guys who can light up the scoreboard. Playing smart is the key.”

The Giants, who were dragged into a do-or-die game by the pesky Rain or Shine crew in the previous series, has yet to beat the Beermen this conference. The first time these two met, San Miguel Beer ran away with a convincing 92-76 victory and then outlasted Purefoods the second time around 87-80.

Games Today: (Araneta Coliseum)

5:00 p.m. – Ginebra vs. Alaska
7:30 p.m. – Purefoods vs. San Miguel Beer