Texters, Beermen try to forge clash of the titans

Manila, Philippines–Top seeds Talk ‘N Text and San Miguel, squads whose rosters are littered with some of the biggest names in local hoopdom, try to close out their semifinal foes Sunday and forge a riveting showdown for the PBA Fiesta Conference. The Tropang Texters and the Beermen tote 3-2 edges–although both teams got there via separate routes–and could send the public in a mad scramble for tickets by wrapping things up in Game 6 at the Araneta Coliseum. The Tropang Texters take the first shot at a best-of-seven championship series berth when they try to eliminate gutsy Alaska in a 4 p.m. contest. The Texters grabbed the series lead for the first time with a gripping 82-81 Game 5 victory Friday.  The Beermen, meanwhile, surged to a 3-1 lead in their half of the Final Four, but missed the first of three chances to close out the Derby Ace Llamados. They will take another shot at a championship ticket again in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap. Talk ‘N Text barely scraped past the Aces Friday night, needing a late layup from Jason Castro and the brilliance of Shawn Daniels to wrest the upperhand in a series where they played catch-up through four games. San Miguel Beer looked ready to enter the finals first, but dropped an 88-82 decision to Derby Ace Friday. “We’d love to be happy about this win, but we have but one day to prepare hard for a huge, huge Alaska fightback,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes told reporters moments after holding off the Aces. A victory by Talk ‘N Text will put it in the Finals for the second time in the Reyes era after the Texters won the Philippine Cup last year in the mercurial mentor’s first tournament with Manny V. Pangilinan franchise. But it will surely be another battle that will go down to the wire and Reyes hopes that import Shawn Daniels performs above expectations again. Daniels, on the verge of being replaced, not only scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, he was also instrumental in the game-winning plays for the Texters. First, he used his wide frame to clear a path for Castro to make the marginal basket. Then, he challenged–and changed–two Alaska shots at winning the game, one by Joe Devance and the other by Diamon Simpson. “As long as Shawn comes up with numbers that are close to what Simpson gives Alaska, we have a chance,” Reyes said even as he hinted that Daniels might still be on the way out if the Texters make it to the Finals. “We are getting the time to have (possible replacement) Omar Sneed get to know the brand of basketball here and for him to acclimatize better,” Reyes said. Jimmy Alapag and Mac Cardona will also play key roles for the Texters, who have still to get a monster offensive game from Kelly Williams. Ryan Reyes will likely sit out a second straight game because of a hyper-extended knee. Meanwhile, San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen rued his team’s lack of desire in blowing the chance to end Derby Ace’s Fiesta Conference run. “That’s what separates a good team from a great team,” Tanquingcen told reporters when asked what went wrong. “You must be willing to make the sacrifices and resist the temptation of human nature. “When things are going good, you are most prone to relaxing,” he added. “That’s human nature.” Gabriel Freeman will still be at the forefront of the San Miguel game on both ends, while Tony Washam, the hero for Derby Ace in Game 5 and James Yap will be the Llamados’ go-to-guys.