Tigers dreaming of perfect Christmas

It has all the trimmings of a great story on a great day, a David-and-Goliath tale right on Christmas Day, as the underdog Coca-Cola Tigers try to slay heavy favorite Alaska Milk in Game Four of the PBA Selecta All-Filipino best-of-five title series at the Araneta Coliseum.

This is the first time in PBA history a game is played on the 25th of December, and the Tigers may make their very own record, winning a championship in their maiden season in the league.

The Tigers go for the championship and the unprecedented record as they play the Aces in Game Four of what has turned out to be thriller of a series starting at 6 p.m.

The PBA and the Araneta Center have prepared a special treat for the fans, offering for free the general admission and upper box sections of the Big Dome. Basketball fans only need to bring proofs of purchase of any PBA team product, Selecta product or any proof of visit to any establishment inside the Araneta center to avail of the promo.

If the Tigers muff their first shot at the coveted title, they have another shot at it Friday in the same venue.

To many, the Tigers have already crowned themselves champions by going this far despite all the trials and travails they experienced and still experiencing in the tourney.

If they achieve the near impossible task, it could be remembered the biggest upset in league history.

Obviously, PBA fans have realized there’s a series at hand and started trooping back to the playing venue in Game Three Sunday. A sparse crowd of only about 2,000 watched Game Two – the lowest ever in a PBA final.

While most basketball watchers talk about Coca-Cola’s brave stand and character, coach Chot Reyes would rather give credit to the teamwork of the players as the key in their amazing surge.

"We’ve always been credited for our courage and character. But please don’t forget our teamwork," said Reyes. "The teamwork we’ve displayed the whole season has been tremendous. And to me, it’s most satisfying to see this from this bunch of individuals who barely knew each other at the start of the season."

But Reyes is not about to write Alaska off in the series. He said: "Alaska is too good a team not to make a comeback."

But Reyes could feel a happy ending this Christmas day.

He said: "I don’t know if we can finish them off tomorrow (today). You have to remember that because of our shallow bench the longer the series goes, the more that it works in their favor. But we’ve been able to narrow it down to a sprint, and that makes our chances a little bit better."

So amazing were the Tigers they’ve been dominating the Aces despite a badly crippled lineup.

They led by as many as 20 points before settling for a 62-60 win in overtime in Game Three. In Game Two, Coca-Cola kept the game close before striking at crunch time, carving a 72-69 decision also in overtime.

The team also had a chance to win Game One but Poch Juinio botched what could have been a game-winning play in the closing seconds.

Despite being small practically on all positions, the Tigers have been holding their own in rebounding. In fact, the team pulled down more rebounds in Game Two, 51-50, and in Game Three, 45-39.