The Final Score: In the PBA Finals, Ginebra wins Game 5 by doing the unexpected

LAS VEGAS - Even in the small window of my laptop, through the sometimes choppy web stream of Game 5, Talk 'N Text still looks fast. While I strain to identify details on my monitor, there are obvious things even technological obstacles can't hide. Jason Castro is fast, like he's moving on DSL-speed while his defenders move at dial-up pace. He is also skillful. And when he sinks jumpers from 18-feet, it just seems unfair. He's too quick. So is his team. So is their defense. So is their rush to lead the Finals this soon, 3-1. Then, Game 5 happens. As inexplicable as Mark Caguioa's unkempt mohawk (it actually has bangs), Ginebra is still alive. While Talk 'N Text has successfully set the rule in the Finals, Ginebra is content being the exception. Not as deep, not as swift, not as defensively pure, not as offensively democratic as TNT, Ginebra's wins in Games 2 and 5 are displays in aberrant behavior. What most expect, they don't follow. What most predict, they don't subscribe to. In the Semi-Finals, Nate Brumfield was the bronze statue who could score. In Ginebra's losses in the Finals, critics believed he grew frustrated with TNT's collapsing defense on him and grew tiresome of playing defense on them. Guest TV analyst Ryan Gregorio said it best as he called out Brumfield during one defensive lapse in Game 4, "Brumfield is just walking!" He became the bronze statute, period. Many expected him to stay that way. But in Game 5, Brumfield goes back to being Brumfield; granite man who scores and rebounds. In the tectonic shift of Brumfield's resurgence, other unexpected contributors follow his lead. Rob Labagala connects. John Wilson scores. JC Intal delivers. They don't do this regularly. But in the pressure of a must-win game, they find ways to perform. I sense in Yeng Guiao's voice that he's just as surprised to see Ginebra win. Guiao, guest TV Analyst for Game 5, almost lets out a "Woohoo" after Mike Cortez hits a dagger three (these are things you don't hear from Guiao and see from Cortez everyday). Guiao's reaction reverberates from my laptop into the inner workings of my headphones. Surprise can be electric. But a 3-2 series lead is still a huge advantage. Paul Harris is still the import who has played a better all-around series. Talk 'N Text is still the team who loses as often as Chot Reyes repeats clothes. Going into losing skids is just not TNT's style. I will watch Game 6 on my laptop again. I'll be awake at 4:00am to follow the game. I expect TNT's vaunted second unit to shine as always. I expect Jason Castro to test the processing speed of my device anew. But I anticipate Ginebra will do what has worked for them; to bank on the unpredictable - running with TNT, hoping shock troopers continue to over-achieve - and make aberration their new formula for success. - GMA News