Coaches add drama to Talk 'N Text-Petron finals series

First, the players. Now, the coaches. After the protagonists in the ongoing PBA Governors Cup Finals almost went at each other in Game 2, action shifted over the bench the last time as Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes claimed Petron counterpart Ato Agustin challenged him to a fistfight in the Tropang Texters' lopsided 132-105 win over the Boosters Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum. "Minura niya ako ng dalawang beses," claimed Reyes during the post Game 3 interview. "Nung pag-kamay niya sa akin tinanong niya suntukan daw kami. Sabi ko takot nga ako sa iyo. Sabi niya bakla ka kasi! Sabi ko, bakla nga ako." But Agustin later downplayed the incident, stressing, "wala yun. Niyakap konga siya. Kung talagang mainit ako, hindi ko na siya niyakap." The heated exchange of words definitely adds drama in Sunday night's Game 4 also at the Big Dome, with the Tropang Texters holding a 2-1 lead heading into the 7:30 p.m. encounter. Talk 'N Text. In hot pursuit of only the league's fifth Grand Slam and the first since Alaska last accomplished the feat in 1996, is simply dominant in the last two games of the best-of-seven series, averaging a remarkable 22.5 point winning margin. The Tropang Texters were even more impressive in their latest win, shooting a scintillating 67.1 percent from the field behind a 53-of-79 clip. The astonishing numbers notwithistanding, Reyes is still not leaving anything to chance. "The key for us is to try to anticipate what their adjustments will be," said the Tropang Texters mentor. "I have so much respect for that franchise and they will do anything to bounce back." Agustin was man enough to admit the Boosters came out flat in Game 3. He specifically pointed out Arwind Santos' mediocre showing as the Petron power forward finished with only three points on a 0-for-8 shooting just hours after being named as Best Player of the Conference. "Kung ang best player namin 0-of-8 sa field, talagang hindi kami mananalo," he stressed. "Lahat ng department talo kami. Nakita ko talaga na undermanned kami. Wala nang mahugot, pagod na rin ang mga players. For the Blaze Boosters to be able to bounce back, Agustin's immediate concern is to prevent the Tropang Texters from scoring on transition and in their pick-and-roll plays. "We'll try to make the adjustments (Sunday) and try to stop their pick-and-roll. Duon kami nasaktan ng husto," he said. - JVP, GMA News