MANILA—Talk N’ Text tries to become the fourth Grand Slam club in the Philippine Basketball Association starting Sunday night when the Tropang Texters collide with the Petron Blaze Boosters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven title series for the Governors’ Cup is set at 7 p.m. with the Tropang Texters gunning for a sweep of all three titles this season against a team they have yet to beat in this tournament.
“Yes, I am feeling a whole lot of pressure,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes after winding up practice yesterday. “I have to coach without fear.”
“It’s unreasonable not to think about it,” Reyes added when asked if he and his boys were already thinking of the Triple Crown. “But all tournament long, we have been very short-sighted with our goals and it is my job as a coach to keep it that way.”
Reyes is aware of the fact that they have been having a hard time dealing with the Boosters, never mind if Petron will miss former MVP candidate Jay Washington, hands-down Rookie of the Year choice Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Joseph Yeo and Lordy Tugade.
The first Petron win came in the eliminations, when the Boosters played without Washington and an import, before repeating Friday night, 98-83.
“They’re the type of team that gets better every time they lose a man because their talent is maximized,” Reyes said.
Only defunct Crispa (1976 and 1983), San Miguel in 1989 and Alaska 15 years ago, have completed versions of the Grand Slam—an achievement many think is now doubly difficult considering the balance of teams in the league.
Scottie Reynolds will play a huge role in the Talk ‘N Text quest as Petron has a formidable import of its own in the droopy-eyed Anthony Grundy.
Arwind Santos also has picked up his numbers for the Boosters, Alex Cabagnot is expected to play through some pain and rookie Nonoy Baclao could see major minutes in the absence of some of Petron’s big men.
While the Boosters have a short list of reliables for the series, the Texters have a long one with the likes of Larry Fonacier, Jimmy Alapag, Harvey Carey, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Ali Peek all capable of backing up Reynolds.
“It’s still a 5-on-5 game out there,” Petron coach Ato Agustin had said in Filipino Friday night. “If we play with total team effort, who knows? The key in the series will still be defense.”
Before playing as the Petron Boosters, they were known as the San Miguel Beermen whom the Texters beat in the All-Filipino Philippine Cup championship last February.
Talk ‘N Text then nailed the second jewel of the Grand Slam at the expense of Barangay Ginebra in the Commissioner’s Cup last May.