By DING MARCELO

It’s arguably one of the best Game 7s in PBA history. But the final seconds of that epic game left plenty to be desired.

Crucial misses by Alaska at the free throw line were so terrible and disturbing, I’m almost tempted to say the Aces, or at least, some of them, didn’t want to win.

That last play involving Willie Miller raised a lot of eyebrows. Miller, who missed two foul shots earlier that could have tied the game, appeared to have simply tossed the ball in the air.

Was the last play meant for him? Twelve seconds are a long time, an eternity if you will, but the Aces had a play as though only two seconds were left in the game.

Well, this is not to take the glory out of Talk ’N Text’s victory, a truly well deserved and hard-earned championship. The seventh game of this series will go down in PBA lore as one of the most thrilling, a riveting, pulse-pounding match that is not for the weak of heart.

But it could have indeed become more memorable, ranked among the greatest, if Alaska had risen to the pressure and let the Texters and their fans squirm some more in their seats and benches.

The Tropang Texters themselves nearly bungled the whole thing. The Aces kept on missing at the free throw line but then kept getting back the rebounds, and with seconds to play, even stole the ball from TNT. It’s as if destiny was on Alaska’s side.

But as lucky as they were on these plays, they were too darn unlucky with their shots. Could be the pressure, of course. The expression of Tim Cone when the camera caught him, said it all. His face was a mask of total disappointment as his Aces missed their golden opportunities.

Nothing could be more painful for Alaska than this one. They had a 2-0 lead in the series, then 3-2, only to see the Texters come back from the grave.

This is just the second championship for TNT since it joined the PBA. Certainly, this one was sweeter. And people keep talking about a Manny Pangilinan grand slam, counting the victories of Ateneo in the UAAP and San Beda in the NCAA, both college teams closely identified with MVP and which reportedly are funded graciously by the man whose Smart Communications, in the short time you have come to read this far, has earned countless millions.

And by the way, he is the only owner of a basketball team who was given a chance to say his thank you to fans and also to the Alaska franchise, after the championship game. I know of no such precedent. But that was cool, a first for the PBA.

Maybe in the future, we’ll hear a few words from Danding Cojuangco or Fred Uytengsu or Exie Robles.

Things have truly changed in the PBA. Imagine this thing happening in the past, hearing words of wisdom from Danny Floro and Dante Silverio each time their teams won a championship. That would be unique for the two guys who were known to be too shy to address the public.

But give it to MVP and his staff of advisers and coaches for transforming TNT from a team of underachievers to a well-oiled machine that stayed unruffled even when the Aces were coming at them like a runaway locomotive towards the end.

Long regarded as an underachiever, the team boasts of some of the PBA’s most talented lineup but has been short on accomplishment. Now, it appears, it has blossomed into a fearsome squad that may lord it over the PBA for years.

After repeatedly tinkering with the lineup and getting the players it needed through trades and drafts, TNT now possesses a full and capable roster from guard, forward and center positions.

Then there’s Chot Reyes. The fourth coach of TNT in six years, MVP and his advisers may have finally found the man who can make Tropang Texters a dominant PBA power, much like Smart in the cellular industry.

As for Alaska, it may have to ponder what went wrong in those dying seconds where victory was so close only to see it slip from its grasp.

Miller had a chance to be a hero, but guess what, the conference’s best player missed a chance to be the finals MVP.

As for Joe Devance, who also missed two foul shots in the final seconds, he’s forgiven; he’s a bad shot from the line.


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