A classic Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals await Filipino basketball-crazy fans tomorrow at Oakland as the “Splash Brothers” aim for a back to back NBA title in two years.
Before the series started the Chronicle’s  resident spy of “Celebrities and Celebrations” predicted a win by the Warriors in Game 7 with contested bouts throughout. The paper was right on the dot-Game 7– it will be tomorrow. But will it be the Warriors winning?
The Results
Game 1  Warriors  104  Cavs  89
Game 2  Warriors  110  Cavs  77
Game 3  Cavs  120  Warriors  90
Game 4  Warriors 108  Cavs  97
Game 5  Cavs  112 Warriors  97
Game 6  Cavs  115  Warriors 101
This particular finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors equals the intensity of the NBA finals years back featuring the same LeBron James-led Miami Heat vs the Tim Duncan-led Spurs.
NO OTHER BASKETBALL DISTRACTION
This is also a fans-focused finals since there are no other basketball distractions now on TV. The PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and UAAP (Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines) are off season and the idolized Gilas Philippine team is still in practice for the Rio Olympics qualifier in Manila this July.
Thus -even in Tagbilaran city- the friendly betting exercise is big. From corporate executives, government bureaucrats, bankers – to tricycle drivers, gasoline attendants, clerks and students—the beat is on. There are no favorites in the odds- it’s all even one to one.
There is a even a cute side show of an uncle and a nephew-student betting , the P 100 winner donating to the first beggar the winner gets to meet.
WHY THE WARRIORS IN 7TH GAMEÂ
The Chronicle  has to stick to its guns that the Warriors will win tomorrow’s final game.
The Warriors just came from “hell”- working out from an impossible hole of 1-3 in the semi-finals vs the fiery Oklahoma Thunders  led by Durant and Westbrooke. If the Cavs win tomorrow- they will be the first in NBA Finals history to rise from a grave of 1-3 to win the championship.
The science of statistics, therefore, is against the Cavs.
The Chronicle two weeks ago stated that the finals would go the full 7 route because, unlike last year, James is now assisted by two healthy stars Kyrie and Love. But we also pointed out to the fourth quarter savvy of the Splash Brothers- Stephen Curry (back to back MVP regular season) and three-point champion Klay Thompson.
The Warriors started with a slightly deeper bench than the Cavs but this has evened up with Bogut (center out of the tournament for an injured knee).
But there are intangibles tomorrow. The awesome , noisy Oakland “Strength in Numbers” crowd at the  hometown arena. The “no dribble-swift-passes ”  philosophy of the vastly rotating Warriors’ play.
And of course- the coach Steve Kerr- a winning Chicago three-point player, who played with the greatest cager there is – Michael Jordan.
“A great three point shooting team will always beat a good two-point shooting team.” Arithmetic, Watson. Go, Warriors!