Reyes eyes piece of PBA history in final

MANILA, Philippines - For Talk ‘N’ Text coach Chot Reyes, winning the PBA Philippine Cup title will mean more than just adding to his collection of seven championships. It will also mark the first time in 27 years for a franchise to win back-to-back All-Filipino crowns with Great Taste the last to defend the league’s most prestigious conference plum in 1985.

Powerade coach Bo Perasol is in his second PBA finals after falling a win short of capturing the 2007-08 Fiesta Conference title with Air 21. Curiously, Powerade’s last finals appearance was as Coca-Cola in the 2003 Reinforced Conference under Reyes who won his fourth crown with the Tigers.

Both teams were apparently destined to make it to the finals because they advanced through the eye of the needle. Powerade was seeded only eighth after the eliminations and defied the odds in striking out No. 1 B-Meg in the quarterfinals despite a twice-to-win disadvantage. Then, the Tigers went the distance and survived a physical series to knock off Rain Or Shine in the semifinals.

Talk ‘N’ Text didn’t take any chances in ousting Barako Bull with the first of two chances in the quarterfinals although the Texters barely escaped with an 81-79 decision. But the Tropa went through the wringer in the semifinals, becoming only the third team in PBA history to win a series from a 1-3 deficit. The Texters beat Petron by two in Game 5, by three in Game 6 and by one in Game 7 to enter the finals. It was the first best-of-seven series ever with seven consecutive games decided by four points or less and six straight by a margin of no more than three points.

Powerade and Talk ‘N’ Text split their elimination round series at a win apiece. The Texters drew first blood, 95-86, last Nov. 9 despite sitting out Ali Peek and Jimmy Alapag. Then, the Tigers scored a convincing 131-96 romp in the rematch last Nov. 27 with Jared Dillinger, Ryan Reyes, Peek and Alapag out of commission. Powerade capitalized on the absence of the four Texters to post the win as Gary David hit 27, Marcio Lassiter 19, Sean Anthony 17, Jvee Casio 14, Doug Kramer 13 and Romel Adducul 10.

Reyes summed up Talk ‘N’ Text’s miracle comeback in the Petron series with one word: Heart. The outspoken coach stuck a foot in his mouth when before Game 4, he said another loss to Petron would mean the end of the series. Petron won Game 4 and built a 3-1 series lead but somehow, Reyes managed to take the foot out of his mouth as the Texters survived three do-or-die affairs to resurrect from the grave.

In Game 7 of the Petron series, former PBA chairman and Maynilad president Ricky Vargas watched on TV from the Cuneta Astrodome lounge, avoiding added tension by staying away from the scene of the action. “With three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, I suddenly had an attack of hypertension,” said Vargas. “Thank God, I had my pills with me. It was a great series and could’ve gone either way.”

As for Powerade PBA governor J. B. Baylon, he said the clincher over Rain Or Shine was the Tigers’ coming out party. “The whole team came out to play and gave as good as they got,” he said.

Reyes, a five-time Coach of the Year awardee, is the only coach in PBA history to gain All-Filipino titles with three different teams – Coney Island in 1994, Coca-Cola in 2003 and Talk ‘N’ Text last season. The Texters are playing in their 12th finals and Reyes is gunning for his eighth crown to tie Joseph Uichico in the championship standings.

Powerade is the lowest playoff seed to ever reach the finals. In the NBA, the only eighth seed to barge into the finals was the New York Knicks who fell to San Antonio in five games in the Last Dance in 1998-99. If the Tigers beat the Texters, they’ll become the first eighth seed to win a championship in either the NBA or PBA.

The Tigers are in their fifth finals but first as Powerade with Reyes steering the franchise as Coca-Cola to four title playoffs in 2002 and 2003. How ironic that now, Reyes is on the other side of the fence facing Perasol who still has to savor the sweet taste of a championship.

Perasol, 39, was an assistant coach with UP, Welcoat in the PBL, Surigao and Laguna in the MBA and Air 21 in the PBA before succeeding Bong Ramos at the Express helm in the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference. A broadcast communications degree holder from UP, Perasol is a quiet, soft-spoken tactician who draws inspiration from the Bible. In contrast, Reyes is a flamboyant master of the mind game with an impressive track record that establishes his credibility as a winning coach. Their duel is an intriguing sideshow of the Philippine Cup finals.