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Four teams, two Finals berths, two do-or-die games. That's just how close this PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series has turned out to be. Defending champion Talk 'N Text battles old, bitter rival Petron while Rain or Shine faces fellow underdog Powerade in a pair of winner-take-all encounters Wednesday before an expected overflow crowd at the Astrodome for the right to face-off for the All-Filipino championship. All four squads declared they are ready on the eve of the first pair of Game 7s in the league since the 2006 Philippine Cup. "We just have to do our best to be ready," said Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes. "We're raring to go. We are just blessed we are in this position. The kind of effort we had in Game Six is the kind of effort we need (Wednesday). I hope we have saved our best for last."
Petron-TNT Game 7 to be a close match, says Barako's Allado
In the semi-final series between the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, no game has been decided by more than four points, and Barako Bull Energy center Don Allado does not see that trend changing in the pivotal Game Seven between the two bitter rivals. "Both teams, they represent their corporations also, not just their respective teams," Allado said. "They have too much pride in themselves and the players are veterans on both sides. They don't want to look bad. They have too much pride. Click here for more
The Tropang Texters, aiming to become the first to repeat as All-Filipino titlists in the last 27 years, extended their best-of-seven series into a sudden death encounter after a 111-108 Game Six win Sunday behind the all-around effort of reigning league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jimmy Alapag. The heady playmaker exploded for a conference-high 29 points and served as the glue that held the Tropang Texters together in the stretch when Petron made one final run. With the series tied at 3-3, Talk 'N Text now tries to defy the odds, hoping to become only the third team to rally back from a 3-1 deficit and win a series. Ginebra (1991 Finals) and Purefoods (2006 semis) are the only squads to have achieved the rare feat in PBA history. To do it, the Tropang Texters, however, had to compete once again with an incomplete roster. Kelly Williams, playing through a hamstring injury, isn't expected to see action that much, while Ryan Reyes is a doubtful starter for the second straight game owing to a wrist injury. Good thing, big man Ali Peek was spared from being suspended after the flagrant foul penalty 1 he committed against Joseph Yeo in Game Six was upgraded to flagrant foul penalty 2. He was fined P10,000, though. "We're taking it as day-to-day," said Reyes. "Kelly and Ryan are still doubtful to play. My worry is that they both want to play but if I force it, their careers might be at risk." Unlike Talk 'N Text, Petron will have its active roster in full force, including point guard Alex Cabagnot. Like Peek, Cabagnot also escaped suspension after league commissioner Chito Salud likewise upgraded to flagrant foul penalty 2 the flagrant foul 1 he committed when he clothesline Peek while the Talk 'N Text center was going to the basket. The Petron playmaker, however, was slapped a P20,000 fine. With Cabagnot all accounted for, coach Ato Agustin expects the Boosters to be focused for the match unlike the way they did three nights ago. "We lacked focus especially on defense," he said. "Our game is not like that. Our game is more on the low-scoring, defensive style. This must not happen again. We have to work on our mistakes and let's see what happens (Wednesday)."
Allado: Playing with passion carried Powerade, Rain or Shine in semis
Barako Bull Energy center Don Allado isn't the least bit shocked that the Powerade Tigers and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are about to play a Game Seven. The two offense-minded underdogs turned a lot of heads by barging into the PBA All-Filipino Cup semifinals, but Allado credits their success to their style of play. "They play the game full of passion, and with both teams playing like that, of course they're going to reach a Game Seven. Click here for more
As interesting as the Petron-Talk 'N Text duel is the other semifinals showdown between Rain or Shine and Powerade. The Elasto Painters, getting 26 points from Jeff Chan, also tied their series against the Powerade Tigers (3-3) after a 112-98 victory in Game Six. Rain or Shine is on the verge of its first Finals appearance since entering the league in 2006. "This is the biggest game for our franchise," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. "It's only proper that we give it our biggest effort. The stats and other numbers don't matter anymore in a Game Seven. It's pure heart and desire. We have invested so much in this series to let it go any other way but ours." Powerade too has invested so much not only in this series, but the entire playoffs so far, having been the eighth seeded team to topple top rank B-MEG Llamados in the quarterfinals. Now, the fight has gone down to one win inside 48 minutes, and Tigers coach Bo Perasol believes his team has a very good shot at it. "It's going to be a game of will," said Perasol, aiming to notch his second Finals stint after the 2008 Fiesta Cup with Air21. "Whoever fights to win until the end will get the series. Our team intends to do just that." — JVP, GMA News
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