TALK ‘N TEXT SEALS FINALS DUEL AGAINST RAIN OR SHINE
Alaska Milk could be the team of the future, but Talk n Text remains the toast of present time, now having a chance to stretch its reign in the PBA Philippine Cup to three years.
The back-to-back defending champions Tropang Texters crushed the Aces’ never-say-die stand Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome, hacking out an 83-78 win to advance to the best-of-seven finals versus Governors Cup ruler Rain or Shine.
The battle of champs begins Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Talk n Text has made history as the first team in almost a decade to land the all-Filipino titular series for three consecutive seasons. The Texters now chase another record, looking to be the first ball club in three decades to win it three in a row.
“We really have good, dedicated players and they deserve to be back in the finals. The goal now is to win it,” said TnT coach Norman Black, having his own feat of reaching the finals in his first conference in his PBA comeback.
“We’ve certainly gone through a tough series against Alaska Milk and hopefully it helps us against Rain or Shine,” Black also said.
“Rain or Shine is a different package as far as competition is concerned. They have big guys who can shoot from the outside and at the same time they’re very physical inside both offensively and defensively. They will pose us different problem,” Black added.
While the Elasto Painters seek back-to-back championships, the Texters pursue a third straight all-Filipino crown – a feat last done in the league in 1983 by the legendary Crispa Redmanizers team.
Black, taking over from coach Chot Reyes after handing Ateneo five straight championships in the UAAP, will be after an 11th PBA title after winning nine for San Miguel Beer and one for Sta. Lucia Realty.
“It feels good to be back in the championship and that’s the goal from the very beginning,” said Black on his own feat.
Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Jarred Dillinger, Kelly Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo starred for the Texters as they foiled the Aces’ bid to force a rubber match.
Castro, Dillinger, Williams and De Ocampo took the cudgels for TnT early on before Alapag came to life, pouring in all of his 15 points in the final half.
Alapag helped TnT build a nine-point lead, 80-71, that proved enough cushion on their four-minute dry spell at the finish, becoming the first team to make the Philippine Cup finals three in a row since Purefoods’ seven straight from 1988-94.
Castro, Dillinger, Williams and De Ocampo also put in double-digit outputs, negating Calvin Abueva’s 11th double-double game in the conference. The prized rookie made a career best 23 points that went with 13 rebounds.
Alaska stared at early 10-point deficits but rode Abueva’s and Gabby Espinas’ 13 straight markers towards the end of the second quarter to seize the lead at 41-37.
Abueva gave the Aces tremendous boost in the second period, collecting 12 points and six rebounds despite three early fouls.
The Texters, however, salvaged a one-point lead, 42-41, at the half on a long jumper by Ryan Reyes and two free throws by Castro inside the final minute.
Dillinger, Williams and Castro delivered the goods as TnT set the pace in the first 18 minutes of the game, leading by 10 at 28-18 and 32-22.
Dillinger opened the game with a three-point play and a trey before Williams and Castro took over, finishing with 12 and nine points, respectively, in the first 24 minutes of play. (SB)
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