By Joaquin Henson


MANILA, Philippines - On the eve of Game 7, Talk ‘N’ Text coach Chot Reyes and Alaska coach Tim Cone singled out one key factor that they thought would decide the clincher in the PBA Philippine Cup finals.

Reyes said it was poise – the ability to execute down the stretch. Cone said it was tempo – the team that could dictate the pace would win the crown. They were both right and wrong.

Last Wednesday, the Aces lost their poise in the final seconds of Game 7, missing four free throws and flubbing at least four attempts from the floor. It wasn’t because they lacked the heart. It was just because they were human. Talk ‘N’ Text’s deeper bench simply took the starch out of the Aces who were one or two healthy players away from the championship.

Alaska had control of the tempo most of the way, keeping the scores low, and in fact, outpointed the Tropang Texters, 26-20, in the fourth period. Talk ‘N’ Text couldn’t even break the 30-point barrier in any quarter. Clearly, Alaska was the tougher defensive unit. Cone made sure of that. Entering the finals, Talk ‘N’ Text was the only team in the league to average in triple figures. In the title series, the Texters managed to score 100 points only once. But when it came to winning time in Game 7, the difference was the Texters had a lot more gas in their tank.

Curiously, Reyes downplayed the Texters’ depth in his pre-game analysis. He said it didn’t matter because in a Game 7, adrenaline would take care of fatigue.

As it turned out, Talk ‘N’ Text’s extended rotation played a major role in bringing the Texters to the Promised Land. In a long series, the Texters had the decided edge and they proved it by taking Games 6 and 7. Alaska’s chances hinged on playing a short series where depth wouldn’t be such a major factor.

In Game 7, Cone masterfully juggled his lineup to compensate for a shallow rotation. Jeffrey Cariaso sat out Games 5 and 6 due to a pulled hamstring and could only play nine minutes in the closer. Tony de la Cruz got into early foul trouble and played just 18 minutes, finishing with four points. What a drop from De la Cruz’ performance in Game 1 which Alaska won, 102-95. De la Cruz compiled 17 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and five steals in 39 solid minutes in the opener.

With Cariaso and De la Cruz playing limited minutes, Cone’s nucleus was reduced to just a handful of reliables. Willie Miller and Joe DeVance played 41 minutes each. No Texter played as much in Reyes’ 10-man rotation. It was no surprise that Miller and DeVance missed four combined foul shots in the final run – they were too fagged out.

Six Texters logged at least 26 minutes apiece compared to Alaska’s four, meaning Reyes used more shock troopers to pace his regulars and Cone was limited to a compressed lineup. It was a credit to Cone’s coaching prowess that despite the handicap, Alaska could’ve pulled off a win in the last minute.

What must haunt Alaska is the realization that the Aces really blew it. They squandered a 2-0 series lead and had a twice-to-beat advantage moving into Game 6. In Game 7, Alaska had more rebounds, 50-46, and more assists, 22-18. But what doused cold water on the Aces’ drive was poor foul shooting. Alaska was only 16-of-28 from the line compared to the Texters’ 19-of-27 in Game 7. If the Aces converted just half of the free throws they missed, they would’ve won Game 7 by two.

For Talk ‘N’ Text, it was sweet victory and a long time coming. The team’s last title came in the 2003 Philippine Cup with Joel Banal, now Cone’s assistant, at the helm. Reyes, 45, is now in the history books as the first coach ever to win the All-Filipino crown with three different teams – Purefoods, Coca-Cola and Talk ‘N’ Text. He also spoiled Cone’s bid to surpass Baby Dalupan’s all-time mark of 601 career wins. Cone needs just one more notch to break his tie with Dalupan and become the PBA’s winningest coach.

The championship was also meaningful to several Texters. Ren-Ren Ritualo played in his first finals. Mac-Mac Cardona, Yancy de Ocampo and Harvey Carey were on the Talk ‘N’ Text squad that lost to Alaska in the 2007 Fiesta Conference finals so redemption was on their mind. Ranidel de Ocampo won his first title in his first conference with his new team. Ali Peek’s last championship came when he suited up for Cone in Alaska’s finals triumph over Coca-Cola, coached by Reyes, in the 2003 Invitationals. Rookies Jason Castro, Jared (Daredevil) Dillinger, Pong Escobal and Rob Reyes savored a championship in their first conference as pros. Jimmy Alapag proved he still has what it takes to play bigger than his size, making a case for a slot on the national team.

As the series progressed, it was evident that the team with the deeper bench would enjoy a huge advantage in a Game 7. Health and foul issues conspired to blunt Alaska’s competitive edge in the clincher, paving the way for Talk ‘N’ Text to bag the title with a flourish.

The Texters’ victory continued a trend in the last three Cone-versus-Reyes finals where the Game 1 winner wound up losing the series.

If the Texters lost, it would’ve been extremely painful as lengthy preparations were made to celebrate a victory. Before the game, yellow and blue confetti rained on the Araneta Coliseum premises from a helicopter. Musicians and 10 to 15-foot-tall “higantes” – all wearing Talk ‘N’ Text shirts – welcomed fans at the four Big Dome gates. Exactly 1,888 lucky balloons were propped to drop from the rafters and two championship banners were to be unfurled inside and outside the Big Dome with a Texters victory. The San Beda band was around to cheer for Talk ‘N’ Text and confetti sprays were situated in the four corners of the stadium.

In the end, PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan was rewarded with a grand slam after San Beda’s victory in the NCAA and Ateneo’s championship in the UAAP. It was evident his work ethic, uncompromising dedication and winning attitude had rubbed off on the three teams closest to his heart.



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