Whom is destiny calling?

It’s more than just the championship on the line in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup best-of-7 Finals between Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N’ Text starting tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

Victory will mean a claim to immortality in the PBA record books.

Ginebra is shooting for its first back-to-back titles since joining the pros in 1979. In all, the franchise has bagged five trophies in 14 previous Finals appearances but only one in the post-Robert Jaworski era.

Kings coach Siot Tanquingcen piloted Ginebra to the Fiesta Conference last year and is eyeing a second straight crown.

Talk ‘N’ Text is the defending All-Filipino titlist. No team has won back-to-back All-Filipino championships since Great Taste in 1984 and 1985. So the Phone Pals are looking to become the first team to duplicate the Great Taste feat in 19 years. Coincidentally, Phone Pals coach Joel Banal played for Great Taste during those All-Filipino title seasons.

The All-Filipino conference was renamed the Philippine Cup in deference to the Fil-foreigners who enjoy dual citizenship and are eligible to play in the league as locals.

If there’s a team that Talk ‘N’ Text craves to defeat, it’s Ginebra because vengeance is sweetest at a tormentors expense.

In the Fiesta Conference last year, Ginebra trounced Talk ‘N’ Text, 111-103, in Game 3 of the best-of-3 semifinal series to advance to the Finals against Red Bull. The Phone Pals have never recovered from the setback, losing twice to Ginebra in the double round classifications in the Philippine Cup. In fact, Ginebra is the only club that Talk ‘N’ Text hasn’t beaten this conference.

But if destiny is calling, Talk ‘N’ Text may be the anointed team because Ginebra’s starting point guard Jay-Jay Helterbrand is doubtful for tonight’s series opener. Helterbrand strained his left calf muscle and played only 11 minutes of the first half in Ginebra’s decisive semifinal win over San Miguel Beer last Friday.

Tanquingcen told The STAR the decision to play Helterbrand or not will be made just before Game 1 tonight. The good news for Ginebra fans is Helterbrand did not tear his calf muscle and only strained it.

Helterbrand burned Talk ‘N’ Text with 22 points, 11 assists and no turnover in 43 minutes in Ginebra’s decisive win in the Fiesta Conference semifinals last year. He also torched the Phone Pals with 33 points and dished off eight assists in the Kings’ 108-102 decision last Christmas Day.

No other Ginebra player has been as severe a headache to Banal as Helterbrand.

In their first meeting this conference, Ginebra blasted the Phone Pals, 91-80, last Oct. 27. Five Kings hit in double figures compared to four for Talk ’N’ Text. Ginebra compiled more rebounds, 66-43, and fastbreak points, 18-6, to offset the Phone Pals huge advantage in turnover points, 22-2. Ginebra shot .480 from the field and held Talk ‘N’ Text to only .337.

In their second encounter last Christmas Day, the Kings came from behind to shock the Phone Pals, 108-102, as Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa combined for 55 points. Once more, Ginebra had more rebounds, 60-53, and fastbreak points, 11-8. The Phone Pals had 21 more field goal attempts but shot only .379 compared to Ginebra’s .432. The Kings also outscored Talk ‘N’ Text from the line, 31-14.

The 15 factors of consequence in the series are:

• Firepower. No team is as explosive as Ginebra. When the Kings are on a roll, there’s no stopping the tsunami. In the conference, Talk ‘N’ Text is averaging 96.4 points and Ginebra, 92.6. But in their head-to-head matchup, the reverse is the order. Edge: Ginebra.

• Depth. The Phone Pals are much deeper down the line. Banal has the luxury of playing the likes of Patrick Fran, Donbel Belano, Bong Ravena and Allan Salangsang off the bench. Edge: TNT.

• Size. On a man-for-man basis, Talk ‘N’ Text is taller and bigger. Yancy de Ocampo is 6-9 while both Mark Telan and Don Camaso are 6-6. Vic Pablo, who’s 6-3, plays much taller than his height. If Asi Taulava plays, he’ll clearly tilt the balance. Edge: TNT.

• Quickness. No point guard in the league is quicker than Phone Pals star Jimmy Alapag but on a team basis, Ginebra is faster on the break than Talk ‘N’ Text. Tanquingcen likes to use the three-guard lineup with Helterbrand, Caguioa and Rodney Santos because the Kings are deadliest in a high-octane tempo. Edge: Ginebra.

• Matchups. This is a tough call because the matchups are almost even. Eric Menk’s ability to play three positions is Tanquingcen’s ace. Cross matchup’s are likely as Santos is expected to take on either Alapag or Willie Miller. Edge: Ginebra.

• Defense. Talk ‘N’ Text is giving up 89.1 points a game and Ginebra, 90.4. But in the semifinals, the Kings showed they, too, can play tough defense. Adducul anchors Ginebra’s interior defense while Santos takes care of the perimeter. Edge: Ginebra.

• Coaching. Banal’s experience is extensive. He’s a master in confusing the opposition by mixing his defensive alignments. Tanquingcen has a sensitive feel for the flow of a game and makes timely substitutions. Edge: TNT.

• Desire. Hunger is what drives a team to go the extra mile. In a war of attrition, the will to win is crucial in deciding the outcome. Both teams are highly motivated. Ginebra’s never-say-die reputation is legendary and it’s something the players live by. Edge: Ginebra.

• Playmaking. The Kings realize the whole–in basketball terms, the team–is greater than the sum of its parts. Ginebra struggles in the halfcourt and prefers to finish in the open court. Helterbrand leads the league in assists and holds the key to the Kings running attack. Ginebra is averaging 21.2 assists a game compared to the Phone Pals 16.7. Edge: Ginebra.

• Resiliency. Without Taulava, Talk ‘N’ Textproved its ability to adapt by barging into the semifinals. Any other team losing its leading scorer and rebounder would’ve folded up. Credit goes to Banal for pushing the right buttons and making the necessary adjustments. Edge: TNT.

• Stamina. Coming off a grueling San Miguel semifinal series, Ginebra enters the Finals fagged out. The Kings gas tanks are half-empty even if they like to think they’re half-full. The Phone Pals are fresh from a six-day rest. Edge: TNT.

• Crowd support. The fans will show up in droves for Ginebra. Through the years, Ginebra has been the league’s crowd darling and the barangay multitude remains fiercely loyal to the Kings. Tanquingcen refers to the crowd as the team’s sixth man. Edge: Ginebra.

• Poise under pressure. When the going get tough, Ginebra buckles down to business. Caguioa, Helterbrand, Menk and Santos are no strangers to clutch situations. They won’t hesitate to take the big shot. Edge: Ginebra.

• Killers instinct. Talk ‘N’ Text is like a panther on the prowl. The Phone Pals are merciless and unforgiving particularly when their opponents are on the ropes. They don’t give up leads easily. In the double-round classifications, Talk ‘N’ Text murdered FedEx by 21, Purefoods by 22, Coca-Cola by 19, Shell by 17, Red Bull by 16, San Miguel by 15 and Sta. Lucia Realty by 19. Edge: TNT.

• Health. In a best-of-7 series, the team that is healthier has a decided advantage. Players who are susceptible to injuries will bow out with a whimper. Helterbrand has a nagging calf muscle problem and that will hamper his style. Miller is recovering from an ankle sprain but has a high threshold for pain. Edge: TNT.

In sum, Talk ‘N’ Text is favored in a short series and Ginebra in a long series. But in the Finals, it’s destiny that will make the call.