MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text seeks to close the final chapter while Barangay Ginebra wants to postpone the final rites in Game Six of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven titular duel at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.
It’s Manny Pacquiao’s fight day which the Tropang Texters and the Kings both want to end with their own clash for a piece of history at home.
Talk n Text goes after the first successive championships in franchise history while Ginebra looks to repeat its 1991 feat where it won a championship coming from a 1-3 hole.
The Kings lived to fight another game as they battled with great resolve and stopped the Tropang Texters, 100-93, in Game Five Friday.
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said they would again play the best they can to force a deciding Game Seven.
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, on the other hand, only expects his players to exert extra effort to avoid the specter of a rubber match.
The Kings imposed their game Friday, keeping the Tropang Texters from employing their dreaded run-and-gun attack.
“That’s a conscious effort on our part,” said Uichico.
Reyes said poor rebounding and their inability to run were big blows in their bid in Game Five.
“It’s unacceptable and mortal sin for our team. Hopefully, we can recover and return to the court with energy and effort Sunday,” said Reyes.
The Texters have yet to lose successive games in their dominating performance in the conference. At 14-3 in the tourney and 34-10 dating back to first conference, Talk n Text is on track to setting an all-time best win-loss mark in a season.
The standing record is 49-15 (.766) established by Crispa in 1977. The last two teams which hit the .700 mark were San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk in their grand slam seasons in 1989 and 1996, respectively.
For Reyes, the immediate goal, however, is to correct their lapses for Game Six.
The Kings outrebounded the Texters, 48-40, in Game Five and thus got more opportunities to make baskets.
“We gave them too many possessions,” rued Reyes.
Ginebra stopped Talk n Text in its tracks, cutting down the Texters’ series lead to 3-2.
“We stayed alive but it’s just hard to look far forward. We got the job done in Game Five and we’ll try to get the job done again Sunday,” said Uichico.
“Nothing to celebrate about. It’s just a game, and we’ll face another uphill climb Sunday. We’ll again try our best to stay alive,” Uichico added.
Cheered on by their loyal followers, the Kings played tough all night and survived a second do-or-die game in the conference. They earlier won a KO match versus Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals.
Nate Brumfield came through with 26 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as against Paul Harris’ 15 points and five rebounds.
Mark Caguioa logged 20 points, eight assists and four rebounds, Rudy Hatfield contributed 12 points and nine rebounds while Mike Cortez and JC Intal chipped in 10 points each.
These Ginebra players stayed fresh throughout, and beat out the Texters in the payoff period.
Ginebra sealed the win as Cortez banged away a trey after a crucial Talk n Text error making it 98-90 entering the final minute of the contest.
By Nelson Beltran, The Philippine Star
