MANILA, Philippines - Before the series escalates into a real fight, raging Talk n Text wants to end its grand slam chase the earliest way possible.
The Tropang Texters seek to put more pressure on the Petron Blaze Boosters as they go for a pivotal 3-1 lead in their PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven championship showdown tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Judging by the way Talk n Text dominated the last two games, there may really be no stopping the Texters unless the Boosters are able to recharge, reinvigorate and find ways to dictate the tempo.
The Texters, however, are anticipating the best the Boosters can offer as they are determined to stay on the run and put the series away before tension further builds up.
A bench-clearing incident marred Game Two, and the next game ended up with Petron coach Ato Agustin challenging Talk n Text counterpart Chot Reyes to a fight on their way to the dugouts.
“It will be the toughest game. We must be ready for their adjustments and continue to push the pace. They will try something different, so we need to be alert enough to counter it,” said Reyes.
Agustin seems to be losing hope, saying their lack of personnel and talent is becoming evident in the series.
There’s no question, though, that Talk n Text has got more talent and deeper bench, and coach Reyes has been making good use of it like a maestro conducting his orchestra.
So impressive were the Texters it showed in how they ran the Boosters to the ground in the last two games, winning with a whopping combined margin of 45 points.
The Texters stoked the fire of their 103-85 win in Game Two, torching the Boosters with a 67.1-percent shooting for an even bigger rout, 132-105, Friday.
“Before the game, we talked about imposing our game – pushing, pushing and attacking, and hopefully finding the time that they break down. That’s our game; no secret to our game,” said Reyes.
“The key for us now is to anticipate what they’re going to do. We hope to continue putting the pressure on them,” Reyes added.
The question is whether Petron has still something to squeeze from a lineup reeling from the absence of injured stalwarts Jay Washington, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Lordy Tugade and Joseph Yeo.
Arwind Santos has been left as Petron’s main man yet he struggled for only three points in Game Three. He went 0-of-8 from the field curiously after being named Best Player of the Conference.
Game Four will be preceded by the annual season-end awards rites now known as “The Leo’s.”
Talk n Text stars Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams and Santos lead the cast that is in contention for the Most Valuable Player award.
Also vying for the coveted plum are Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa, B-Meg’s James Yap and Joe Devance, Meralco’s Sol Mercado and Petron’s Jay Washington.
Al-Hussaini, though missing the Governors Cup finals due to a torn MCL, looks cinch to win the Rookie of the Year award.