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MANILA: Start talking Grand Slam.
With a furious windup that was all heart, Talk ‘N Text on Sunday night turned back Barangay Ginebra in overtime, 99-96, to rule the Commissioner’s Cup title playoffs and bag the second jewel of a coveted Triple Crown sweep.
Close to 13,000 screaming fans that braved a tropical depression that left parts of Metro Manila flooded went to see a classic ballgame that had the Tropang Texters coming back from two 15-point deficits before closing out the game Gin Kings, 4-2, in their best-of-seven series.
And more than winning the franchise’s fourth PBA title, this group of Texters are now looking forward to conquering even greater heights, no less than league immortality actually, after putting themselves in a position only three franchises before them have even accomplished.
“Two-down, two-down,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes screamed at the public address system in the din of the celebration, addressing the Talk ‘N Text faithful that came in a sea of yellow.
Later on, inside the press room for the customary winning coach’s interview, the firebrand coach said: “obviously, now that we have gotten the second, we will chase the third jewel (to complete a Grand Slam). We are definitely going to go for it.”
Jimmy Alapag tossed in 24 points, and Jason Castro had 19 and the duo combined for the Texters’ final eight points before the rest of the squad played hard-nosed defense in the final 20 seconds to preserve the victory.
And just like in the Philippine Cup series against Ginebra’s sister team San Miguel, Castro and Alapag shared Finals MVP honors, emphasizing how formidable their guard teamup has been.
“It wasn’t only us, but the support we have been getting from our teammates,” Alapag said.
Talk ‘N Text got a break with 2:11 left in overtime when Ginebra import Nate Brumfield was carried off the floor because of a left quadriceps cramps, an injury that forced him out for the rest of the game.
Before his exit, the Kings were holding their own and were controlling the pace of the game, even leading, 81-66, early in the fourth period after Willie Miller hit five straight points.
Brumfield was outplaying the entire Talk ‘N Text frontline and Miller was having his finest offensive showing in the series that made it look like the Kings were on the way to forging a deciding seventh game very few thought was possible.
The Best Import of the Conference finished with 18 points and 22 rebounds and Miller led the squad with 21. But the Kings fell after Mark Caguioa struggled, especially in two crucial endgame plays which could have turned things around.
Caguioa was blocked by Castro in a key Ginebra possession in the fourth period, which led to a left-handed Alapag layup with 19 seconds remaining for an 88-all game that eventually necessitated overtime.
And when the Kings needed a three-pointer to take the match into a second extension, Caguioa didn’t even come close with his triple try and Talk ‘N Text won out in the mad scramble for possession that started the wild gallery celebration.
Red, yellow and blue balloons that were left hanging in the rafters Friday night finally fell, and Reyes faced the Talk ‘N Text crowd with both arms raised and with two fingers on each hand signalling his championship streak.
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, ever gracious whether in victory or defeat, approached Reyes there to offer his hand, obviously proud of his boys who gave the highly-favored Texters a great run for their money.
Only Crispa, in 1976 and in 1983, San Miguel in 1989 and Alaska in 1996 have completed Triple Crown sweeps and joining that elite roster is obviously the biggest motivation for the Texters after their latest championship conquest sinks in.
“Oh, man, we’re definitely going to go hard for it,” Alapag said, though the tiny point guard would most likely miss majority, if not all, of the Governors Cup with the team to lend him to the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas national team program.
