CHAMPION TEAMS COLLIDE
With the ultimate prize up for grabs, Talk ‘N Text versus San Mig Super Coffee in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals promises to be a war between two championship-caliber squads, with players ready to fight tooth-and-nail just to get the upper hand over the other.
“We’re looking forward to return to the basketball court,” said Tropang Texters coach Norman Black. “The rest gave us a chance to heal our injuries.”
Tipoff for Game 1 of the best-of-five Finals is 8 p.m. Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dispatching Rain or Shine in three games last Friday, Talk ‘N Text has enjoyed a one-week break leading to this series, and makes them well-rested for this championship date, a luxury the team didn’t have when they had an early quarterfinals exit last Philippine Cup, coincidentally at the hands of the same San Mig squad.
“One good thing that the people don’t realize is that this conference, we’re coming in healthy,” he said. “Last conference, our players had injuries because of the FIBA Asia. We’re healthy right now, and we’re focused at the job at hand. Our import fits well. Richard Howell gives us a big body underneath, which is what we’re lacking since the absence of Ali (Peek). We’re ready to play.”
Talk ‘N Text pins its hopes behind Howell, who is the front runner for the Bobby Parks Best Import award, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro, the leading candidates for the Best Player of the Conference plum, and mainstays Jimmy Alapag, the rejuvenated Ryan Reyes, and Larry Fonacier, to name a few.
“Our goal is the championship and we’re up against a great team, but our goal is on our minds,” Black said in front of sports scribes when the two teams met at the PBA Finals press conference at Sambokojin Eastwood City on Thursday.
Talk ‘N Text remains unbeaten in their 13 games in the second conference, and would love to become the first team in PBA history to record a perfect season.
Hall of Fame coach Baby Dalupan came close to achieving that feat after winning 19 straight games in the 1980 All-Filipino Cup, but lost against archrival Toyota in Game 3 of the Finals, and finished the conference with a 20-1 slate.
On the other hand, San Mig coach Tim Cone also knows that the perfect record Talk ‘N Text is gunning for is quite an achievement.
“It’s gonna be real tough. Our overall record is 9-8, and theirs’ is at 13-0. That’s a big disparity. We had to go through eight games to get to the Finals, so they have the advantage because of rest. But we have the experience. Our team is capable of turning around and getting ready. We’ll bank on experience and play well in the Finals,” Cone said.
San Mig is gunning for its 12th title, while Talk ‘N Text looks for its seventh championship.
It would also seem that history is on Cone’s side, as he came on top in the only time the two multi-titled coaches met in the 1995 Governors’ Cup, where Alaska topped San Miguel, 4-3. Incidentally, Cone won the next three conferences en route to the Milkmen’s 1996 Grand Slam.
“It’s a short series and we’re coming in with great momentum, with great confidence. We don’t want to get trampled and get the series away from us, so we’ll try to change their momentum by trying to deal them their first loss,” said Cone.
The winningest coach in PBA history will have his import James Mays at the forefront, together with Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon, James Yap, Joe Devance, and Mark Barroca to lead the Coffee Mixers.
“It’s gonna be a tough contest,” Black said. “They won the last two championships. But for us, we’re just out to win the championship.” (RL)
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