FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
Finalist in six of the last eight conferences, Talk n Text is in a very unfamiliar situation, facing possible early extinction in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
But all’s not lost, and the Texters vow to do what it takes to stay alive in their faceoff with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the final game of the preliminary round of the season-ending tourney Sunday.
The Kings are out to automatically clinch the eighth and last quarterfinals berth while the Texters are out to force a playoff in their 6:30 p.m. setto at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
A three-way tie among Ginebra, Talk n Text and Air21 at eighth is also a possibility.
In such a case, the quotient tiebreak system will be applied with the team with the worst quotient automatically heading for the exit, leaving the two other teams to battle in a do-or-die game.
Before Sunday’s matches, Ginebra enjoys a plus-13 differential points as against Talk n Text’s minus-four and Air21’s minus-nine.
For the Express to figure in a playoff, they must prevail over Alaska and hope that Talk n Text beats Ginebra by at least 22 points.
Talk n Text, the Philippine Cup champ, must beat Ginebra two in a row to salvage the last quarters berth.
“We have a hard road ahead, but we will just focus on what’s in front of us which is the game tomorrow (Sunday),” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black. “We will worry about what’s next if and when we get there.”
Black admits they’re in for a very tough test against Ginebra.
“Not a good time to play Ginebra,” said Black, knowing the Kings thrive in this situation.
The Texters are in their worst start in an import-laden conference in over a decade. They’ve lost all their last five games.
The Kings are slightly better at 3-5, bungling a crack at an outright quarters entry in a 106-113 loss in overtime to the GlobalPort Batang Pier Friday.
Ginebra main man Mark Caguioa, however, is hopeful they would secure the eighth and last quarters berth in the end.
“We just have to fight,” Caguioa said.
“Our sixth man (the crowd) will always be there. It’s up to us to do our part. It’s going to be tough but let’s see what type of Ginebra team is going to show up this Sunday.” (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
