Strong signal in Puerto Princesa

For the first time in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, Ranidel de Ocampo started for Talk ‘N’ Text and the adjustment worked wonders for coach Chot Reyes in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series in Puerto Princesa last Sunday.

De Ocampo missed the first 11 games of the Philippine Cup and slowly, labored his way back to Reyes’ rotation. When the first conference finals came around, De Ocampo was ready to rumble and wound up averaging 14 points in the six-game win over San Miguel Beer.

In the Commissioner’s Cup, De Ocampo has been a steady presence for the Texters. He scored 27 points in Talk ‘N’ Text’s 97-90 victory over Air21 in Game 1 of their semifinal series. And in Game 2 of the finals last Friday, he netted 16 points in 17 minutes.

There’s no deadlier shooter in the league than De Ocampo in working the pick-and-pop. Reyes likes to use De Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag in the play which starts with De Ocampo setting the pick. Alapag then accelerates to lose his defender. If the help reacts, Alapag whips the ball back to De Ocampo for the perimeter shot. Another option is for De Ocampo to roll to the basket after the pick with Alapag giving it up. The play is double-bladed. If the defense allows Alapag access to the lane, he’ll score on the penetration. If the lane is clogged, Alapag will find De Ocampo open for a flip. Either way, the defense is under pressure and that’s the way Reyes likes it.

De Ocampo got off to a strong start in Game 3, pumping in nine points in the first period. He added six in the second, went scoreless in the third and dumped another six in the payoff quarter to finish with 21. De Ocampo went 5-of-7 from three-point range, grabbed eight rebounds and picked up three assists. He didn’t take a single free throw as Ginebra was careful not to foul De Ocampo shooting a three.

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More than De Ocampo’s offense, Talk ‘N’ Text leaned on defense to put Game 3 away. The outcome was settled in the last 12 minutes when Ginebra was limited to only 14 points. The Kings actually outrebounded the Texters, 48-45, but crumbled in the face of the Texters’ stifling defense down the stretch. Ginebra, proudly the No. 1 team in the league with the least turnovers, was forced into 24 errors and Talk ‘N’ Text capitalized by scoring 15 turnover points to the Kings’ eight. Ginebra had more assists, 19-13 and one more three-point conversion but in the final analysis, the Texters’ defense made the difference. Ginebra struggled in shooting only .397 from the floor while Talk ‘N’ Text shot .449.

With Talk ‘N’ Text’s defense holding up, the Tropa was able to generate its familiar high-octane offense fueled by 16 fastbreak points. Reyes also did a good job of containing Ginebra’s relievers as the Tropa had the edge in bench scoring, 41-35. In Game 2 which Ginebra won, the Kings had the advantage in fastbreak points, 19-12 and bench scoring, 48-36.

Talk ‘N’ Text’s resiliency was no more evident than in covering up for import Paul Harris’ conference-low output of 15 points. Harris played 31 minutes, five less than Alapag, and hit only 5-of-11 field goals. But six locals banged in twin digits– a rarity in a finals game. In all, seven Texters scored in double figures – De Ocampo, Harris, Jason Castro, Harvey Carey, Alapag, Kelly Williams and Ali Peek.

On the Ginebra side, only three players scored in double figures – Mark Caguioa, Nate Brumfield and Mike Cortez. The two Ginebra “kids” who shone in Game 2 were not a factor this time, combining for only 6-of-17 from the floor and collecting three turnovers apiece. John Wilson and Rob Labagala were brought down to earth by the Texters’ unforgiving defense. Lost in the shuffle were Ginebra guards Willie Miller and Ronald Tubid. Miller had only three points and Tubid, two.

Tubid is the odd man out for Ginebra in the finals. Coach Joseph Uichico has dispensed with his three-guard formation because Tubid, playing the three-spot, is too small to match up against Harris. In Game 1, Tubid shot four points. In Game 2, he had two. In Game 3, Tubid also had two. In the finals so far, he is a combined 0-of-5 from three-point range and 3-of-10 overall. What will keep Tubid on the bench even longer is when De Ocampo plays three and Harris shifts to four. The mismatch becomes even more glaring with De Ocampo’s height and ability to shoot over defenders.

Reyes pushed the right buttons in Game 3 and the Texters did what they failed to do in Game 2 – outwork Ginebra on defense.

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Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Uichico will try to equalize the series count in Game 4 tonight. Miller is due for an explosion but Caguioa is overachieving and eating up the Thriller’s minutes. Tubid can’t get untracked because of the mismatch at the three-spot. Eric Menk, Rudy Hatfield and Willy Wilson must work harder in the interior to prevent the Texters from scoring high percentage shots – in Game 3, the Tropa compiled 40 points in the paint compared to the Kings’ 28. And Brumfield must do his share in defense if Ginebra hopes to tie it up.

As the series progresses, the opposing coaches will run out of new tricks. By now, the players know what they’re capable of doing and not doing. So do the coaches. It will come down to a test of character. The team that wants it more, the team with the bigger heart will get the job done in the end.