TALK 'N Text's latest achievement tastes extra-sweet, but it has little time to savor it.
Tropang Texters coach Chot Reyes may want to just "rest and forget basketball" for a while, but the mid-season PBA Commissioner's Cup starts Feb. 10, making it imperative that their respite be a short one.
Motivation this time could come easy, since no team has defended the import-laced Commissioner's Cup title since Batang Red Bull last pulled off the trick in 2002.
The feat may not be as unique as the plateau TnT reached when it became the first Philippine Cup repeat champion in 27 years, but it would do just as fine.
"Prepare for the second conference," was how Reyes simply bared his plans following the break.
No matter the rest's duration, it surely would be used by Reyes and his charges to savor their latest accomplishment, capped by a 110-101 victory over gritty Powerade last Sunday before a crowd of over 14,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The triumph enabled the Texters to wrap up the best-of-seven series, 4-1, annex their third title in the last four conferences and fifth in all since joining the league in 1990 and duplicate what now-defunct Great Taste last pulled off in 1985.
For Reyes, it is his eighth title in all that put him alongside Jong Uichico at fourth in the all-time list of champion coaches. The legendary Baby Dalupan has 15, Tim Cone 13 and Norman Black 10. Reyes, however, has five A-F crowns, just one behind Dalupan.
"Every championship has its distinct flavor,” said Reyes. “But the All-Filipino is different, and becoming the first back-to-back champion in 27 years, I’m out of words.”
It also somehow made up for the blown Grand Slam TnT could have had last year before it was foiled by Petron Blaze in the Fiesta. The last time the Triple Crown was achieved was in 1996 by Alaska.
"Masakit 'yung pagkatalo namin sa Grand Slam pero ito naman 'yung kapalit, back-to-back Philippine Cup championships," said Reyes.
"This took 27 years in the making. Mas matagal iyon kaysa huling Grand Slam. That makes it so special," he added.
Adding spice to it all is the fact TnT's chances grew bleak when it trailed Petron by a 1-3 count in their race-to-four semifinals duel.
But quit the Texters did not, rallying back to win that series and going on to win the first three games of the title duel.
"All we talked about was, 'Let's make the most of this opportunity because we'll never know when we'll be back (in the finals),'" related Reyes.
“I myself thought this one’s not for us when we fell down 1-3 in the semis. Pero iba talaga ang team na ito. I have to give it to them. The guys are so special,” he added.
A Texters sweep looked imminent, but the Tigers displayed anew the spunk of an eighth-seed wanting to complete a Cinderella finish by taking Game 4, 100-97.
Last Sunday, TnT would not be denied much longer, coming out with its best start in the duel to lead by as many as 24 points before holding off Powerade's big fightback in the fourth quarter.
“They just wouldn’t give up,” noted Reyes of the Tigers. “But neither did we.”
The high-priced Texters, at one time or another sidelined by injuries when TnT wound up second behind B-MEG in the eliminations, were all there when it mattered.
None more so than Larry Fonacier, named the PBA Press Corps-Bayad Center Finals MVP awardee after averaging 16.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while logging a team-leading 34 minutes in the series.
“What a perfect choice. We played 21 players all in all in the tournament, but he’s the only one who played each game of the tourney,” said Reyes. "I wouldn't have given it (award) to any other."
Other Texters shone, like Ryan Reyes, singled out by his coach as the one to blame for their hole against Petron, and Ali Peek, almost given up for lost in the tourney after being shot in the nape last November.
Reyes, the player, scattered 20 points and also had eight rebounds and a PBA all-time high 10 steals while Peek chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds in the final game. Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro had at least 14 points and six assists each.
Gary David again carried the fight for Powerade with 37 points, but only Sean Anthony, Jayvee Casio and Marcio Lassiter were the only other Tigers with significant contributions in the critical game.
Powerade can fashion its own redemption, maybe as early as the Commissioner's Cup.
For now, the centerstage and limelight clearly belongs to the Texters.(NC)
Source: PBA.ph
