This developed after the Gin Kings subdued the gritty Smart Gilas squad on Easter Sunday, 92-85 and wrap up their series 3-1. The Texters booked the first finals seat last April 20 when they clobbered the Air21 Express.

The Fatigue Factor

Of the two teams, TnT seems to be fresher. They were the first team to cop the first automatic semi-finals seat while Barangay Ginebra went through a best of three quarterfinal series against Rain or Shine and a four game series against the Smart Gilas squad. Physically and emotionally, TnT obviously has the upper hand in this area.

Consistency and Well-Matched Bench

Talent-wise, both teams seem to match-up well. Starting from their PBA reinforcements all the way to the role players, TnT and Ginebra seem to be deadlocked.

However, as far as consistency is concerned, Talk ‘n Text has some sort of an edge over the Gin Kings. Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, Ryan Reyes and Paul Harris have been known to explode at times supported by the tough interior defense and inside plays led by the likes of Ali Peek, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams.

But Ginebra is expected to rise to the challenge as always. Led by import Nate Brumfield and Mark “The Spark” Caguioa, the Gin Kings have shown that they can be equally explosive and great on defense as we saw in their played games so far.

Ginebra's "Sixth Man"

And of course, there is also the sixth man of the Gin Kings, the pro-Ginebra crowd that TnT must contend with. This has been the bane of most teams who have faced Ginebra. And considering this is the finals, expect the die-hard Ginebra fans to be present in all of the PBA finals games.

The Battle of Bench Tacticians

The battle of wits will likewise be something to look at. TnT coach Chot Reyes and Ginebra coach Jong Uichico are no strangers to finals stints and both certainly have respect for each other’s capabilities. Both teams are expected to unfurl their explosive offensive arsenal, leaving perhaps another deciding factor on which team can come up with the right defensive strategy to hold the other.

The Texters did defeat the Gin Kings in their elimination round duel, 102-99 but this game alone should be an indication that no team is safe even with a big lead. Ginebra has been known to wave its “never-say-die” flag in all of its games and TnT coach Chot Reyes knows this all too well.

Best Import Watch

The duel between Harris and Brumfield will likewise be something to watch. Both imports have proved they deserve their jobs and are most likely to outdo each other to help their team capture the gold and cop the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Import of the Conference.

Rugged and Physical

The PBA Finals is likewise expected to be a highly physical encounter with both teams known for their rugged defense that ignites their offense. The ruggedness on defense of both teams as well as the psyche wars are expected to take a feverish pitch this time around, something that may change the tide in favor of the other team.

There is perhaps no better way to cap off a conference by seeing two souped up teams go at it. And with the PBA dream match set to start this Wednesday, you can be sure that Filipino basketball fans are in for a treat with the TnT-Barangay Ginebra duel expected to be another emotional and highly physical series the PBA has to offer.

Brian Yalung, Manila Bulletin