LET’S GET IT ON!
Done with the rhetoric, Rain or Shine and Talk n Text now buckle down to work on the floor, breaking the ice in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven title playoff Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Rain or Shine and Talk n Text topped the elims with identical 8-3 win-loss records, took one game to dispose off their respective quarterfinals matchups, and sustained their blazing romps in the semifinals to set up a repeat of their 2013 Philippine Cup championship showdown.
The Texters swept the Elasto Painters, 4-0, in their previous Finals faceoff and have won nine of their next 11 matches, including a shutout win in the last Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semis.
The consensus, however, is that the two teams are slugging it out in different circumstances now.
Talk n Text is on a rebuilding process, filling in the shoes left by Jimmy Alapag and Jared Dillinger while Rain or Shine may already be in peak form now following three runner-up finishes in the last two years.
At peak form or not, the Elasto Painters should be wiser and better with lessons learned in those Finals.
But the Texters should still be a tough matchup with guys like Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Kelly Williams and new recruits Kevin Alas and Matt Ganuelas Rosser.
As always, Game One will be a key.
“In any series, Game One is always important. You’ll have the advantage in a lot of things, including in adjustments,” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico, in the running to become a latest addition to the list of coaches who’ve won championships with three different teams. He’s won titles with San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.
“Game One gives you the confidence, momentum and the advantage in adjustments,” said Guiao who is aching to get the game so as not to put to naught the good rest and preparation they got with their perfect ride from the quarterfinals.
“For us it’s the validation of the hard work we put in becoming the No. 1 in the elims. Then we got three extra days of rest because of our three-game sweep of Meralco (in the semis). To me, that should give us some advantage going to Game One,” Guiao pointed out.
“We lose that, and it’s a big setback,” Guiao added.
The two teams could well figure in a stretch-out best-of-seven series with both in great playing condition.
“It’s gonna be a series of adjustments. Sana makuha namin ang Games One, Three, Five and Seven. Sa kanila na ang Games Two, Four and Six,” said Uichico in half jest during the pre-Finals press conference Monday.
“Sana mukha namin ang Games One, Two, Three and Four at sa kanila ang Games Five, Six and Seven,” replied Guiao, smiling.
The coaching duel between Uichico and Guiao would be an interesting side battle. The two cerebral tacticians, teammates during their teenage years in the Greenhills village basketball and in the La Salle juniors team in the NCAA, have won 14 PBA championships between themselves.
There’s also the battle between topnotch imports Wayne Chism and Ivan Johnson, familiar with each other being rivals in the NBA D-League.
Chism carries averages of 25.4 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks while Johnson norms 31.2 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.8 steals.
The series could be a shootout if the two teams sustain the fierce shooting forms shown in the semis.
“Three-point shooting is gonna be a vital factor for both teams in winning games as we both like to shoot treys,” said Guiao.
“I thought we were shooting well as we average more than 10 a game in the conference and 13 in the semis. That’s a lot. But Talk n Text averages almost even,” Guiao noted. “We made 19 (three-pointers) in one night. I thought it’s hard to match, but they matched it right in the next game.”
Talk n Text is actually No. 1 in three-point shooting percentage (36.94) in the tourney while Rain or Shine isn’t far behind with a 33.47 percent clip.
“I hope we cancel each other out in three-point shooting and we win in other departments,” said Guiao.
Uichico thinks whoever makes their shots, be it a three-pointer or two-pointer, will have the better chance of winning.
Talk n Text aims for a seventh championship while Rain or Shine guns for a crown to add to its lone title run in the 2012 Governors Cup. (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.
