TNT or ROS

In this age of initials, TNT and ROS will stand out in the next two weeks as Talk N Text and Rain or Shine face off in the championship of the Philippine Basketball Association All Filipino Conference. So far, Talk N Text has won Games 1 and 2, 89-81 and 87-81. Ironically, the scores of both games don’t illustrate how close the battle is between both sides. But the other interesting highlight from both games is that both were identical in the way Talk N Text won. TNT controlled the tempo of both games, gave way to an ROS rally before recovering in the endgame to win. The question is if the script will be followed the rest of the way.

Even before the series started, TNT was already installed as favorites to give Norman Black a unique back-to-back title sweep of the UAAP+PBA titles. TNT is probably the team with the deepest and most talented players with at least 10 players capable of stepping up anytime. Black has the pleasure of having two crack point guards in the two J’s: Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro. Going down his line-up, he has the likes of Larry Fonacier, Jared Dillinger and Ryan Reyes at the wings. His big men are Ranidel de Ocampo, Ali Peek, Kelly Williams who can also play the wing, and Harvey Carey. So far, Black has relied heavily on a rotation of Alapag, Castro, Fonacier, Dillinger, Reyes, de Ocampo, Peek and Williams. And all have stepped up at the right place at the right time in Games 1 and 2. When Alapag, went to the bench, Castro took care of running around his defenders, scoring 16 points in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2. He has a quickness edge over Paul Lee. Among the big men, the versatile de Ocampo, who can score inside and out, has been an offensive surprise, leading TNT scoring in both games: 16 in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2.  Alapag hasn’t seen the need to score but has orchestrated the offense feeding teammates for points; 10 assists from the two games. And just as ROS clamps down on de Ocampo and Castro, Dillinger, Williams and Fonacier come up with clutch baskets in an excellent demonstration of spreading the offense. But while offense has been TNT’s edge early in the series, Black is giving credit to his team’s defense as his “calling card” to winning. True enough, ROS has been shut down early in both games, and has had to rally in the second half of both games. ROS even managed to take the lead in Game 2, but TNT didn’t panic, recovered and regained control of the game for the win.

Rain Or Shine is easily the PBA’s new darling team. It’s composed of a bunch of blue collar players who aren’t known for their huge paychecks and good looks. It’s a typical Yeng Guiao team that relies on a huge heart, tremendous fighting spirit and trust for each other. The only marquee name on the roster is likely Gabe Norwood, but that’s about it. Paul Lee, TY Tang man the point guard chores, while Norwood, Jeffrei Chan, Ryan Arana, Chris Tiu, Jireh Ibanes run the wings. The frontline is better known for “Extra Rice Inc” brothers JR Quinahan and Beau Belga. Jervy Cruz and Larry Rodriguez also man the paint while Ronnie Matias doubles at the wings and inside. Guiao confidently and usually goes to practically anybody on the bench since he doesn’t have any superstars. Cruz, Lee and Chan led the team with a 13-11-10 point combo in Game 1, while it was the trio of Quinahan, Lee and Cruz delivering 16-15-12 points in Game 2. Norwood has been quiet with eight and nine points, but should step up in the next games or two. If he continues to score in single digits, ROS is in for a tough series. The department which ROS is supposed to be good at is defense, but it hasn’t been the case in Games 1 and 2 where they’ve dug themselves a hole early in the game allowing TNT to score 51 points at halftime of Game 1 and 44 in Game 2. The blue collar kind of work that ROS is known has been inconsistent and they have to wake up asap before it’s too late. The hardworking defense has been inconsistent, thus giving Castro and de Ocampo excellent shooting nights. They managed to keep the game close in the second half, but why wake up only in the third and fourth quarters and virtually give away the first half?

I wonder if the ROS players are still in awe that they’re in the finals. It doesn’t look like their being in the finals hasn’t sunk in yet. After winning a championship earlier, this isn’t supposed to be a problem anymore. On the other hand, the Tropang Texters are very much at home as they go for their third straight All Filipino Conference title. This seems to be the intangible that has given MVP’s team the lead early on. But will ROS make a dramatic comeback? They surely can’t afford an 0-3 hole, but I get the feeling that Guiao is going to look for another ace up his sleeve. If he keeps using the same formula used in Games 1 and 2, then they might as well surrender. It simply isn’t working.

TNT, ROS?

Time-out: Kudos to the finishers and all those behind the Cebu City Marathon 2013! >>> You can reach me at [email protected].