PBA season taking its toll on Texters, says Reyes

With four players on the injured list, Petron was supposed to be the undermanned and underdog squad in the ongoing PBA Governors Cup Finals opposite Talk 'N Text. But after a 22-point blowout loss in Sunday's Game 4, Tropang Texters coach Chot Reyes is again psyching up everybody that his team, which is playing tired, should not be considered the favorites in the best-of-seven title series currently tied at 2-2. "My team looked really tired especially in the second half. We've been playing for 10 months, 70-plus games now. The physical, emotional, and mental strain and drain is manifesting itself. They're playing a lot fresher than us," said Reyes. With that in mind, the Talk 'N Text mentor hopes the two-day rest will reinvigorate the franchise seeking to be the fifth team to win a coveted Grand Slam when Game 5 of the title fight is played Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. "It's now a best-of-three and such, Game One is very important," Reyes pointed out. "We must rediscover our energy and desire, otherwise they will be able to impose their pace on us again." Imposed their pace, the Boosters did, outscoring the Tropang Texters, 33-12, in a furious third quarter run which Petron sustained until the end. By the time the smoke of battle cleared, Talk 'N Text was a beaten team, two of its top players in Larry Fonacier and season Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jimmy Alapag held to a combined 13 points on 7-of-16 field goal shooting. Petron coach Ato Agustin said the Boosters followed their game plan accordingly, resulting into that 105-83 victory—an unimaginable task by a team that's playing minus injured top guns Jay Washington, Rookie of the Year Rabeh Al-Hussaini, and veterans Lordy Tugade and Joseph Yeo. "We were able to contain their fastbreak points, we played smart, and we were able to control their guards, especially Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag," Agustin said. "We continued to play good defense, and we forced them to play the half court." Having dragged the Tropang Texters this far and moving within two wins of bagging the season-ending championship, Agustin is pushing his team not to give up at this stage. "There's no time to relax," said Agustin. "Imagine, we have been playing in the eliminations and in the semi-finals trying to get into the championship only to give up now? This is our chance. We're already in the Finals so we have to sacrifice." - JVP, GMA News