PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Two of the league’s most successful coaches who will be calling the shots for the winningest squads in the last decade have the same opinion as far as Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is concerned.
“Game 1 is always important, you need an early lead to establish momentum,” said Norman Black, whose undefeated Talk ‘N Text crew will come into Friday’s 8 p.m. clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum fully rested from a week’s break.
“It is always crucial,” San Mig Coffee’s Tim Cone said as he and his Mixers go into the series-opener as the decided underdogs, having gone through the wringer against Air21 in the Final Four and having just one day to cool their heels.
“We will just have to try and play well,” Cone added. “We have been very inconsistent the whole conference. It’s been up and down for us. Hopefully, we’re on the upside in this series.”
Talk ‘N Text and San Mig Coffee have indeed taken different routes to get to the Finals. The Tropang Texters are undefeated in 13 games and the Mixers were pushed to the limit in each playoff series leading to the championship showdown.
But that doesn’t count much when you look at the rosters, starting from the coaches who have both won Grand Slams and have a combined 27 PBA titles between them.
Richard Howell of Talk ‘N Text and James Mays of San Mig are basically of the same size and play with practically the same style. They are expected to cancel each other out.
Both teams’ local roster will more or less decide this series as they are both loaded to the core.
The only disparity, it seems, is the overall record.
San Mig can win this conference and will never get to match the wins that Talk ‘N Text has chalked up so far. The Mixers will go into this series with a 9-8 mark.
“We’ve been healthy, everyone’s focused and we have a good import,” said Black, the winner of 11 titles, including a rare treble with San Miguel Beer in 1989. “Right now, we’re just ready to play.”
Cone, who has won the most titles by any coach with 16, is the only man left with a chance to put a blot on the Texters’ perfect tournament. But he acknowledges the fact that Talk ‘N Text has the edge.
“They are coming in with such great momentum,” Cone said during Thursday’s press launch of the championship series. “We’ll see what we can do to break that streak, that momentum.”
Piece of PBA history
Black swears that they are not thinking of the winning streak—though they can write a big piece of PBA history if they manage to win the first three games of the series. No squad has ever gone on to win a conference undefeated in the 39-year history of the league.
Game 2 is set at 5 p.m. Sunday and Game 3 on Tuesday at 8, both at the Big Dome. If there’s a Game 4, it would be held at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday and Game 5, if necessary, would be at Araneta again next Sunday.
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