MANILA, Philippines—Talk ‘N Text put on a shooting clinic while Rain or Shine missed the easiest of shots.
It was literally that kind of night for both teams.
“They just hit three-point shots from way way off,” said ROS head coach Yeng Guiao, whose team got swept after an 82-105 blowout loss in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Wednesday night. “Biglang pumutok yung three-point shooting nila.”
“Before that, I actually thought we had the chance because nahabol na namin and we had momentum.”
That opportunity came midway through the third quarter where the Elasto Painters rallied from 16 down early to just two points, 63-65, on a basket by guard Chris Tiu.
But Rain or Shine’s comeback was cut short as Talk ‘N Text shot the lights out.
“Abruptly those three-point shots killed us and from then on mahirap na talagang pigilan because their confidence was up,” added Guiao, whose quest for his first all-Filipino cup championship will have to wait for at least another season.
“And we were missing layups naman on the other end, ayaw naman pumasok,” chuckled Guiao, who seemed in disbelief at how it just transpired in the end game.
Talk ‘N Text, which became the first team to win three straight Philippine Cup titles since the Crispa Redmanizers pulled off the same feat back in the early 80s, connected on a league conference-high 14 treys.
Jared Dillinger hit four, the first one beat the third quarter buzzer while the last three came in the final frame which sparked the Tropang Texters’ big run.
Veteran playmaker Jimmy Alapag drilled in two straight that put the outcome beyond doubt.
Gabe Norwood botched an easy lay in, Beau Belga’s open layup rimmed out while Paul Lee, Jeff Chan and Larry Rodriguez also had attempts near the rim that just wouldn’t trickle in.
“It was not really meant for us. Talk ‘N Text was the better team this conference,” admitted Guiao.
“We will take this as our painful lesson and we will be better next conference.”