MARK Caguioa (right) is expected to rally Ginebra anew against a Talk ‘N Text crew seeking to regain the Philippine Cup title. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Talk ‘N Text, whose three-year reign as PBA Philippine Cup champion ended last season, and Barangay Ginebra slug it out today for the last Final Four slot of this year’s tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Game time is 7 p.m. with the Tropang Texters, who were bundled out last season in the semifinals by eventual champion San Mig Coffee, and the Gin Kings both coming off morale-boosting lopsided victories last Friday.
Today’s winner will earn the right to face elimination-rund topnotcher San Miguel Beer in a best-of-seven series tentatively slated to start on Friday.
The Texters were unforgiving in tearing Barako Bull apart in the first phase of their quarterfinal stint and coach Jong Uichico was able to break in former MVP Kelly Williams, who missed several games because of a nasty bout with pneumonia.
“We still have one game to take care of,” Uichico had said after thumping the Energy.
And he would need all hands on deck against the crowd-darling Gin Kings, who were equally unrelenting in ousting Globalport, also last Friday.
Williams will come in handy as Uichico tries to employ a defensive blanket to cut the Ginebra lifeblood—the Gin Kings’ Twin Towers of 7-footer Greg Slaughter and 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar.
Ginebra coach Jeffrey Cariaso used his big lineup to full effect against the Batang Pier, even playing triple-tower combinations at a time with the likes of either Billy Mamaril and Jay-R Reyes seeing action together with Aguilar and Slaughter.
Ranidel de Ocampo, Harvey Carey and Rob Reyes will be the key backup for Williams even as the Texters also have a horde of fine guards to counter the likes of LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Jay-Jay Helterbrand.
Alaska, the third seed, earlier sealed a clash with the second-ranked Rain or Shine Elasto Painters after making short work of Meralco on Sunday night.
Their series, also a race-to-four affair, is scheduled to start on Thursday.
And while Ginebra has been getting major contributions from its veterans, the Texters have unveiled a new weapon in Kevin Alas, the second overall choice in the last Rookie Draft who has been playing big for Talk ‘N Text.
Jason Castro could also prove to be a match-up problem for the Ginebra guards.