Here’s an ironic twist. Powerade will draw inspiration from Talk ‘N’ Text in hoping to come back from a 0-2 series deficit in their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals. Game 3 is scheduled at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
In the 2003 All-Filipino finals, Talk ‘N’ Text was down 0-2 to Coca-Cola, now known as Powerade. Coca-Cola was coached by Chot Reyes, now calling the shots for the Texters, and Talk ‘N’ Text was piloted by Joel Banal, now with Alaska. The Tigers zoomed to a 2-0 series lead but the Texters roared back to win four in a row to clinch the title in six. It was Talk ‘N’ Text’s first regular conference crown.
Surely, that comeback story is something Powerade coach Bo Perasol will want to relate to the Tigers. Reyes is now on the other side of the fence and you can be sure he won’t let the nightmare of blowing a 2-0 lead happen again. For Perasol, he’s hoping to jinx Reyes into another setback.
Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey were on that Talk ‘N’ Text squad that virtually rose from the grave to capture the title in 2003. Powerade’s Will Antonio was on the ill-fated Coca-Cola team whose other players included Rudy Hatfield, Rafi Reavis, Reynel Hugnatan and Leo Avenido.
Coca-Cola got a measure of revenge when in the 2007-08 Philippine Cup, the Tigers eliminated Talk ‘N’ Text, 81-73, in the knockout wildcard phase. Both teams had just figured in a major trade with Asi Taulava moving to Coca-Cola and Ali Peek to Talk ‘N’ Text. Coca-Cola went on to oust Air 21, 109-102, in another knockout playoff game before bowing out of contention via a 2-0 loss to Alaska in the best-of-three quarterfinals. The Tigers coach was Binky Favis and the Texters were steered by Derick Pumaren who was replaced by Reyes in the next conference.
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In the ongoing finals, Game 2 was more competitive than the opener. Talk ‘N’ Text sat on a pair of 20-point leads before creaming Powerade, 116-100, in Game 1 as the Tropa had more turnover points, 37-16, more assists, 28-23, more three-point conversions, 13-10 (.542 to .357) and less turnovers, 13-20. In Game 2, the Texters won, 102-96, and enjoyed their biggest lead at 12. The Tigers had more tunnover points, 21-19, more assists, 18-16, more free throw conversions, 24-18 and less turnovers, 16-19 but the Tropa dominated the boards, 56-42, hit more triples, 12-10, and shot a higher clip from the floor, .434 to .392.
Curiously, both games were virtually settled in the first quarter as Talk ‘N’ Text set the tone early with a strong start. In Game 1, the Texters led by 17 at the end of the first 12 minutes and the next three periods saw a tight battle with Powerade taking the second, 31-30, and third, 29-28, and Talk ‘N’ Text the fourth, 20-19. In Game 2, it was the same pattern as the Texters took the first quarter by six then Powerade had the edge in the second, 26-25, and fourth, 23-22 and Talk ‘N’ Text the third, 24-22.
Rebounding made the difference in Game 2 as Talk ‘N’ Text generated multiple possessions with a huge 24-16 advantage in offensive boards. Even if the Tropa didn’t score as many second chance points as Powerade, the extra possessions kept the Tigers at bay and prevented them from creating the flow that is a trademark in their offense.
It’s no secret that Powerade isn’t a defense-oriented team. The Tigers are in fact last in the league in defense. But they’re No. 1 in assists, turnover points, steals and free throw percentage and No. 2 in offense, fastbreak points and three-point percentage. In the finals, coach Bo Perasol isn’t about to transform the Tigers into a defensive, low-scoring unit even as he realizes staying home in the perimeter is a principle that can’t be compromised against Talk ‘N’ Text. If the Tigers find their rhythm in offense, they’ll be dangerous every step of the way. The problem is the Texters’ hounding defense has taken away Powerade’s consistency in offense.
Perasol’s adjustment of Marcio Lassiter defending Jayson Castro in Game 2 will likely be reprised in Game 3. Castro had no turnover in Game 1 but had five in Game 2. Unlike Powerade, the Texters don’t rely on just a handful to get the job done. Talk ‘N’ Text’s depth was evident once more last Monday as the Texters’ relievers netted 59 points to Powerade’s 18. In Game 1, the disparity was even bigger, 67-14.
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In terms of experience, Talk ‘N’ Text has a huge edge with 11 players claiming a combined 35 championships compared to four from Powerade with a total of only seven titles. Eight Tigers are playing in their first finals while only three from Talk ‘N’ Text are making their Last Dance debuts. Reyes is the only coach to win All-Filipino crowns with three different teams and has the distinction of being a five-time Coach of the Year awardee with seven titles, four All-Filipino, under his belt. In contrast, Perasol has never won a title and is in his second finals as head coach after guiding Air 21 to a seven-game series in the 2007-08 Fiesta Conference.
In PBA finals history, five teams came back from a 0-2 series deficit to capture the championship with Talk ‘N’ Text doing it twice – over Coca-Cola in the 2003 All-Filipino finals and over Alaska in the 2008-09 Philippine Cup finals. Other teams that accomplished the feat were Barangay Ginebra over San Miguel Beer in the 2006-07 Philippine Cup finals, Purefoods over Alaska in the 2002 Governors Cup finals and Toyota over San Miguel Beer in the 1982 Reinforced Filipino finals. However, the recovery rate is far from encouraging as 32 teams that were up 2-0 in 38 best-of-seven series went on to clinch for a success clip of 84.2 percent. That means, at this stage, Powerade only has a 15.8 percent chance of survival.
Still, Perasol is right – the series ain’t over. It takes four wins to end the series and nobody is writing off the Tigers just yet. Reyes knows from experience, you can’t rest on your laurels with a 2-0 lead even if the odds are heavily in your favor.