BACK IN THE WAR ZONE
Barely over a month after their Commissioner’s Cup Finals encounter, San Mig Coffee and Talk ‘N Text cross paths once more as they start their best-of-five semifinal series in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup Thursday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Still fresh in the minds of the Tropang Texters is their Game 4 meltdown, where they squandered an early 16-point edge and saw the Coffee Mixers take the Commissioner’s Cup title with a 16-4 run to finish the game.
And they are hoping for a change of fortunes this time.
“Sana ngayon kung makarating man kami sa Finals, mas maganda na yung resulta,” said Ranidel de Ocampo.
The number one-seed Texters are looking for a different ending this season, thanks to their import Paul Harris who has been shooting the lights out in their last three games.
Harris had 24 markers and 13 boards in Talk ‘N Text’s 99-84 victory over Barako Bull last Monday, while Niño Canaleta paced the Tropa with 25.
“The next step is the semifinals. No matter who we play, it’s gonna be a tough series,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black after the win over the Energy.
He added, “I don’t really care who we play against. It’s all about my team just focusing on our goals and what we’re trying to accomplish. We’re gonna play our best and we’ll be out there trying to win.”
But they are going to have their hands full against the San Mig Super Coffee squad which is primed for a Grand Slam.
Tip off is at 8 p.m.
The Coffee Mixers outlasted San Miguel Beer also on Monday in a come-from-behind 97-90 win, but they had to draw collective efforts from Justin Melton and Allein Maliksi to fill the gap left by Peter June Simon.
The Scoring Apostle missed the game due to back spasms, and it is still yet to be decided if he’ll be ready for Game 1 of the semis.
“He’s feeling better now, but we’ll see how long it will stick,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
“At this point in the playoffs, you just go out and win basketball games. Everybody in our team knows that we’ll do everything in the playoffs and that is to win,” he said.
Cone added, “Whatever it takes to win, we’re gonna do it any given night. These guys are unselfish and that’s gonna be the reason for our success.” (RL)
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