Talk ‘N Text, Petron relive torrid PBA rivalry

Talk 'N Text's Kelly Williams gets fouled from behind while Petron's Arwind Santos tries to draw a charge. PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Talk ‘N Text and Petron Blaze square off Thursday in their PBA Philippine Cup’s Final Four series described as the “championship before the championship” with no team given an edge at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

Game time is 6:45 p.m. with the defending champion Tropang Texters hoping that the long holiday break have given them ample time to have their battered bodies ready for the tough grind ahead.

And coach Chot Reyes is giving his squad just an even chance against the team that denied them a place in the history of the league, when Petron ruled last season’s Governors’ Cup to prevent the PBA’s fifth Grand Slam.

“It’s 50-50,” said Reyes of his return match with the Boosters which he has tried to down play as a time for them to get even. “Health and conditioning will definitely be factors, but so will hunger and execution.”

Reyes will welcome back two regular big men to his rotation in Ali Peek and Ranidel De Ocampo, but whether or not they are in game-shape and could match up with the Boosters’ frontline remain to be seen.

Peek, who survived a gunshot wound at the back of the neck last November, has started practising and could be the muscle that the Texters need in order to battle the Boosters’ big men led by Danny Ildefonso, Nonoy Baclao and the vastly improved Rob Reyes.

Japeth Aguilar, the hero in the Texters’ last win over the Boosters in the eliminations, could again be asked to play a key role by Reyes. But the 6-foot-9 beanpole must be willing to rough it up inside in order to stay on the floor long.

“My main concern is the game shape of Ranidel, Ali, Kelly (Williams) and Jimmy (Alapag),” Reyes said.

Alapag, the reigning MVP, was in and out of the injured list during the elimination round and cramped up more often than not in their final games, a sign of being not in perfect shape.

Petron, meanwhile, has played a game more than the Texters after needing to win a best-of-three series against Meralco.

The Boosters showed their true strength in that series, with Alex Cabagnot and Dennis Miranda proving to be the biggest headaches for their rivals.

Two of the leading candidates in the Best Player of the Conference award come from Petron, with Arwind Santos eyeing the trophy for the second straight conference.

Santos has been a consistent double-double guy for Petron, finishing in double figures in both scoring and in rebounding 12 times.