The Final Score: What if TNT is simply a better version of ROS?

When a team goes up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series, our impulse is to ask questions. These questions, usually, don’t lead to convenient answers. Often, we ask about the team that is down 0-2. We’re more concerned about the team that is two losses away from extinction compared to the team that is two wins away from euphoria. The former needs solutions, more than the latter.

After Talk ‘N Text defeated Rain or Shine in game two of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, I wondered: What if Talk ‘n Text is a better version of Rain or Shine?

Both teams are deep. They don’t rely on one superstar to always score 20 points. They have unselfish role players. Their starting line-ups morph from game to game. Their Best Players of the Game change from night to night. The ROS boys are perfect underdogs because they often perform better than the favorites. The TNT guys are perfect favorites because they often play like underdogs. They’re both strong, physical and tough to beat.

But TNT now leads the series, 2-0. What should I ask?

Is ROS still looking at a mirror image?

Or…

Is ROS looking at a mirror image on a bigger mirror?

What if Jayson Castro is the X-Men version of Paul Lee?

What if Jimmy Alapag is the X-Men version of TY Tang?

What if Larry Fonacier is the less-harassed version of Jeff Chan?

What if Ali Peek and Harvey Carey are beefier versions of Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan? What if Extra Beef is better than Extra Rice?

What if Aaron Aban is the more athletic version of Ryan Araña?

What if Kelly Williams is an advanced model of Jervy Cruz?

What if Jared Dillinger is the carefree version of Gabe Norwood?

What if Ryan Reyes is the scoring twin-brother of Jireh Ibañes?

What if Pamboy Raymundo is Rudy Distrito and Ronnie Matias is Dante Gonzalgo in a parallel universe?

What if Norman Black is just as strict and critical with his players as Yeng Guiao, only Norman does it with less temperamental flair?

What if Ranidel De Ocampo is…wait…I’m sorry. Rain or Shine doesn’t have anyone quite like Ranidel De Ocampo.

In the same way, Talk ‘N Text doesn’t have anyone quite like Chris Tiu.

Perhaps that’s the key. What else does RoS have that TNT doesn’t have? Attitude? Impunity? Resolve? Whatever it is, we haven’t seen it. It is probably just there, somewhere on the RoS bench, waiting to be activated. We suspect TNT’s clamp-down defense is not allowing RoS to display what makes RoS so inexplicably good.

Before the series, many felt RoS has what it takes to topple TNT. I hear it often from neutral observers: that RoS is the new never-say-die team. Down 0-2, RoS now has the chance to back that claim. From game three onwards, RoS has no other recourse but to prove that a) they’re oddly the new Ginebra and b) they’re really a renegade version of Talk ‘N Text.  - AMD, GMA News