IN terms of talent, both San Miguel Beer and Talk ’N Text are basically of the same level.

But their coaches, on paper, are miles apart.

The Tropang Texters may have the edge in Chot Reyes, the five-time champion mentor who will be facing a rookie coach in Ato Agustin.

But Reyes said Agustin’s being a newcomer could work to the advantage of the Beermen, who are trying to end a 10-year All-Filipino title drought.

“I was in that position before. I was a rookie coach. ’Yung kalaban ko, hindi ako kilala. I may have the experience but Ato has the advantage in unpredictability which he can use [on] his favor,” said Reyes Tuesday at the press launch of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup finals at the Gateway Suites at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

“Basketball is also about coaching. It’s about making good decisions, good adjustments in the right time in the series. With the players he has, he has so many coaches on the floor like Olsen [Racela] and Alex [Cabagnot],” Reyes added.

San Miguel and Talk ’N Text, two of the league’s well-financed ball clubs, begin their best-of-seven showdown on Saturday in Victorias City, Negros Occidental. This marks the first time in years when the PBA is bringing a Finals game to the provinces.

Back in 1993, a young Reyes piloted Coney Island (now B-MEG Derby Ace), to a 4-2 series win over a seasoned and grand-slam coach Norman Black of San Miguel Beer in the All-Filipino finals.

Now, it’s the Beermen who have a neophyte coach in Agustin, who was part of that San Miguel team that lost to Reyes and co.

“Underdog ako as a coach pero sa players, iba naman. Kapag talented players mo, kailangan na lang i-motivate at kung paano nila gagawin ang aming game plan,” said Agustin, who has won as a first-time coach in smaller leagues.

Agustin was a first-year coach at San Sebastian College when he led the Stags to the crown against the powerhouse San Beda Red Lions in 2009 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He also led San Sebastian to the Commission on Higher Education Palaro and the Summer League crowns. He also coached Excelroof to his first Philippine Basketball League title last year.

Now the 1992 Most Valuable Player wants to make it five-for-five with San Miguel.

“I’ll just do my homework. Iba kasi ang labanan kapag finals na, but we will try our best every game,” Agustin added.

Both teams finished with 11-3 win-loss records in the eliminations. They split their first two meetings, thus making the series a tantalizing matchup.

“They have the same record in the eliminations, quarterfinals [beat opponents once], and in the semifinals [both in six games]. They met two times, splitting their two games and here we are on January 22, the two teams will meet,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

“Every game will be a conflict and this series is everybody’s call. We are looking forward for a high-quality championship series,” Salud added.

Game One at the Victorias City Sports Amusement Center starts at 5:30 p.m.

The Tropang Texters dethroned the defending champion Llamados in their best-of-seven semifinal series, 4-2, while the Beermen upended Barangay Ginebra in their own semifinal showdown, also 4-2.

San Miguel Beer veteran guard Olsen Racela, who will retire at 40 after the Philippine Cup, said on offense, both teams are dangerous. He said the team which would be consistent in defense would have the edge.

“Offensive-minded ang dalawang teams kaya dito mate-test ang depensa namin sa series,” Racela said.

Racela played quality minutes in the series against the Kings and is the third guard in Agustin’s rotation after Cabagnot and Paul Artadi.

Talk ’N Text also boasts of a talented guard rotation in Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro and Ryan Reyes.

“I think we have two evenly matched teams with a lot of talent, athleticism and deep bench,” said Alapag. “I think there will be no blowouts and the team which will make it down the stretch will win it.”

Joel Orellana, Business Mirror