TALK ‘N TEXT head coach Chot Reyes does not want his Tropang Texters to feel comfortable after beating B-MEG Derby Ace in Game One last December 26.
That’s why they are treating Game Two of their best-of-seven series as merely the start of their final four showdown as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup resumes on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Talk ’N Text eyes a commanding 2-0 lead over the Llamados in the first game at 5 p.m., while Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer start their own semifinal series at 7:30 p.m.
The Tropang Texters took the opener with a 98-81 victory at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, in the process turning to naught the 36-point explosion of B-MEG Derby Ace superstar James Yap.
The win hardly mattered for Reyes, though, as he expects a strong comeback from the defending champion Llamados.
“We are approaching the game as if the series is 0-0. That’s how important it is for us,” said Reyes, who drew significant contributions from almost everyone else except for Larry Fonacier who had only two points in Game One.
Jimmy Alapag led the team’s balanced scoring with 20 points, while Ranidel de Ocampo made 16 of his 18 points in the pivotal second quarter. Seven Tropang Texters scored at least six points in that win.
B-MEG Derby Ace head coach Jorge Gallent welcomed the long break. Roger Yap and Rafi Reavis can now help the team—Yap missed Game One because of a sore foot while Ravis was bothered with hand and foot injuries.
Yap and Reavis are expected to play on Wednesday, making the Llamados a more potent team with James Yap and Peter June Simon leading the team’s offensive. Simon was held to “just” 14 points in Game One, five below his average.
In the second game, the Beermen’s rookie coach Ato Agustin is wary of the Kings’ deadly guards while Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, on the other hand, is concerned about San Miguel’s advantage in size.
“We have to contain their guards,” said Agustin, referring to Jayjay Helterbrand, Mike Cortez, Willie Miller, Mark Caguioa and Ronald Tubid who can all burn the hoops any given time.
“Sila kasi ang nagbibigay ng buhay sa crowd at alam natin kung paano kumukuha ng power ang Ginebra mula sa crowd. We must not let the crowd get into it, so we have to contain their transition offense kung saan sila mas effective,” he added.
Agustin is also after the Kings do-it-all power forward Rudy Hatfield, who has been giving the team a big lift in the absence of Eric Menk. Menk is still recuperating from a slight Achilles tendon strain.
Hatfield has been averaging 9.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in 17 games in the All-Filipino tournament.
“Grabe ang energy ni Rudy. Kailangan matumbasan namin ang energy niya at ng Ginebra crowd,” said Agustin.
San Miguel enters the series as the No. 2 seed but Agustin said the match-up is just about even especially because they are facing Ginebra, a team handled by a veteran and multi-titled coach in Uichico.
Joel Orellana, Business Mirror
