Battle of the Bridesmaids: Rain or Shine clashes with Alaska in Finals

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It has been 16 years since the PBA last saw a finals match-up like this - two independent teams slugging it out for a PBA championship trophy.

Rain or Shine and Alaska are set to face each other for the first time in a Commissioner's Cup finals.

It is an extremely rare pairing in a 12-team league, where half of the ball clubs belong to two conglomerates.

The two squads, however, share more than just the nature of their ownership - both have been tagged as perennial bridesmaids after combining for seven runners-up finishes in the last three seasons.

Now, one of them will finally taste the glory of winning a championship title after a long time.

"Siguro destiny na manalo talaga 'yung isang team," said Rain or Shine point guard Paul Lee.

"Nakikita naman natin sa social media, sinasabi nila lagi na magandang laban 'to kasi 'yun nga, mga past championship, lagi lang kaming runner-up."

The Elasto Painters were tormented by powerhouses Talk 'N Text and San Mig Coffee in the four times they reached the Finals since winning the Governors' Cup in 2012.

The Aces, meanwhile, thrice fought and thrice bowed to San Miguel Beer the three times they made it to the Finals since winning the Commissioner's Cup in 2013.

Rain or Shine and Alaska have seen the same things. They mirror each other in so many ways that head coach Alex Compton and assistant coach Caloy Garcia combined to make a list.

"They play hard, we play hard. They're deep, we're deep. They're hungry, we're hungry. They do what they do, we do what we do," said the Aces' mentor.

"They like to use their bench, we like to use our bench. They score a lot from their bench players, we score a lot from our bench players," said the E-Painters deputy coach.

The two teams differ significantly in only one way - how they deal with the ghosts of past defeats.

Alaska forgets. The battle scars remain, of course, but they have chosen to keep their eyes firmly focused on what's ahead and right in front of them.

"We try to step in on each challenge as a new challenge and embrace it," Compton said. "I think we try to take lessons out of each loss and win and keep moving forward."

Rain or Shine remembers. They do not wallow in grief, but they have chosen to carry the pain as they face the present, using it to fuel their mission to exorcise the demons haunting them.

"Knowing coach Yeng (Guiao), he always reminds the players about the past. Last year we lost it by two points in double overtime against Talk 'N Text Game Seven," Garcia said.

"Now coach Yeng will be saying the same thing," he added.

"Just a reminder to the players who were there before."

An epic finals series awaits between these two teams, who have both longed for sweet victory but felt only heartbreak for so many times. And only two things are for sure - one bridesmaid will catch the bouquet tossed by the bride, and the other will remain hurting for another chance. — APG, GMA News