If Ash did lose, I'd rather it be to Acerola. Not Mina
The treatment the Alola E4 received is just absurd. Molayne, minor role in one episode. Kahili, one-off episode and not even shown being eliminated in the Battle Royale(Seriously, why couldn't they show Ash/Gladion/Kiawe eliminating her?). Acerola, never battled until now and only appeared once after the Ula'Ula arc. Olivia and Hala are really the only ones to have great treatment, but they're still Kahunas.
Truthfully, Mina shouldn't have been included at all. Replace her with Ryuki, let Kiawe have a rematch and have Soph lose to Acerola.
What I'd prefer-
Ash vs Faba: Ash
Hau vs Oak: Hau
Mallow vs Lana: Mallow
Gladion vs Lillie: Gladion duh
Jessie vs James: James
Soph vs Mina: Soph
Kiawe vs Acerola: Kiawe
Ash vs Hau: Ash
Guzma vs Gladion: Guzma
Mallow vs James: James
Kiawe vs Soph: Kiawe
Ash vs Kiawe: Ash
James vs Guzma: Guzma
followed by Ash vs Guzma: Guzma
OR
Ash vs Guzma: Ash
Kiawe vs James: Kiawe
Ash vs Kiawe: Kiawe
That whole 'battling Ash changed this person' cliche is obviously going to happen with Guzma, Guzma winning can still work
I personally don't give a damn about Ash vs Gladion, the stakes aren't really there... Gladion getting fed to Guzma actually would make him look more deadly, unlike feeding Bianca and Tierno/Trevor of all characters.... Gladion's powerful unlike them!
I want Kiawe to receive the respect he deserves, tired of him being hyped up as this big battler since the start when he's not won a single big battle... it's the opposite of funny.
Being the champion is literally 'the fire of Alola'