AIR21 begins its bid for the franchise’s only second finals stint as the overachieving Express collide with top seed Talk ’N Text in Game One of their best-of-five semifinal series in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
After shocking Alaska in the quarterfinals, Air21 now puts its mettle to a tougher test against the well-rested Tropang Texters in their series opener starting at 5 p.m.
Barangay Ginebra and Smart Gilas-Pilipinas start their own semifinal series at 7:30 p.m.
The Express had to win six of their last seven games after a 1-4 start in the tournament to reach the semifinal stage. They highlighted their entry into the semifinals with back-to-back wins after losing to the Aces in Game One of their race-to-two quarterfinals duel.
They will be meeting the playoff-tested Talk ’N Text five, which has won its last eight games to make the semifinals as the No. 1 seed.
“I think sa game plan na lang magkakatalo. We will try our best to give them a good series. We have to be far more better in our first game against Talk ’N Text,” said Air21 head coach Bong Ramos, who is trying to at least duplicate the team’s finals stint in the 2008 Fiesta Cup.
“We beat a strong team in the quarterfinals. Pero bilog ang bola. With the personnel I have, may chance talaga,” he added.
Ramos said the players who are involved in that controversial trade with San Miguel Beer—Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, Paul Artadi and Dorian Peña—have jelled with his mainstays and import Alpha Bangura’s recent impressive showing are the main reasons the Bert Lina franchise is still alive and kicking.
But if there is one person who is not surprised at all to see the Express make it to the top four, it’s Talk ’N Text head coach Chot Reyes.
“Not at all,” said Reyes, when asked if he is amazed about Air21’s accomplishment so far.
“In fact, from the time they were playing their last game of the elimination, we already started preparing for them. They’re deep, well coached and have the league’s best import,” Reyes added.
“They controlled every game in their series versus Alaska. Na-aksidente lang sila sa Game One. This team has no weakness.”
Paul Harris’s defense will be tested heavily against the talented Bangura in what could be the battle of the top candidates for the Best Import trophy.
The Tropang Texters will be playing minus defensive forward Jared Dillinger the rest of the conference. He underwent an operation in his right shoulder.
But Talk ’N Text remains the favorite in the series with Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jason Castro and Ali Peek leading Reyes’s talented roster.
Gilas, on the other hand, might face the Kings minus naturalized player Marcus Douthit who, according to head coach Rajko Toroman, would have to rest his injured hand.
“We will see today [Thursday] if he can play,” said Toroman. “But even without Marcus, I think we still have a chance and Chris Tiu will be coming back.”
Ginebra beat Rain or Shine in Game Three on Wednesday night, 92-82, to advance to the semifinal round.
Joel Orellana, Business Mirror
