Game today (Araneta Coliseum)

6:45 p.m.  -- Powerade vs. Talk ‘N Text


LOOKING alone at the stat sheet of Game One of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, it was clear who the victor was.

Points off the bench: Talk ‘N Text 67, Powerade 14.

Points off turnovers: Talk ‘N Text 37, Powerade 16.

Field goal percentage: Talk ‘N Text 51.8 percent, Powerade 42.3.

The list could go on, and still, the Tropang Texters will almost have the advantage in every crucial department.

But this is the Finals, a territory Talk ‘N Text has been into in all three conferences last season, something it is familiar with even though only one day separated the championship opener and the franchise’s final game of the semi-finals against mortal rival Petron.

No team that has committed a lot of turnovers and an almost worthless second unit against Talk ‘N Text gets away with victory. So, as Game Two of the Finals is played tonight, Powerade should have been struck with reality already that it would take a tremendous amount of intensity to pull through.

“Against a team like TNT, we cannot turn over the ball and expect not to pay for it. We need to step up our game regardless of what our situation will be. We are definitely going to be better next game,” said Tigers’ coach Bo Perasol.

They should be.

Top Draft pick JV Casio missed Game One because of a hamstring injury.

He remains day-to-day, but Talk ‘N Text is already expecting his return as the Tigers try to prevent going into a deeper hole in the best-of-seven championships.

“We need to be ready for Casio’s return and a huge fight-back from Powerade,” said Chot Reyes, the Texters’ head coach.

Casio, the player who carried the Tigers to a Game Seven 107-98 victory over Rain or Shine in the semi-finals (25 points, seven rebounds, five assists),  is so valued by Powerade that a non-appearance in the series equates to total disaster.

“We may win one game without JV but we definitely cannot win a series without him,” said Perasol.

Because of his absence, Talk ‘N Text’s defense became easier. Gary David was constantly double-teamed the moment he touched the ball, and one of the leading candidates for the Best Player of the Conference award failed to get into a rhythm early and struggled all night long.

David, who once again ended up as the scoring champion in the conference (24 ppg), shot just 5-of-15 from the field in Game One and committed six turnovers.

He didn’t have a field goal in the first quarter, and made his first at the seven-minute mark of the second period.

He ended up with 19 points, his lowest in his last nine games or since scoring only 14 against Barako Bull on Dec. 6.


Marcio Lassiter, the No. 4 Draft pick, also had a bad shooting night.

He just went 5-of-16 from the field.

To put the blame entirely on David, though, is totally unfair.

Powerade’s second unit was a big flop.

The highest scorer who came off the bench for the Tigers was Celino Cruz, who had four, and Josh Vanlandingham merely contributed three.

On the other hand, Talk ‘N Text’s bench players were simply unstoppable, reflecting the depth of the franchise.

Jayson Castro outscored the entire Powerade bench with 23 points, and did more damage by flicking eight assists and pulling down six rebounds in 28 minutes of action.

Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo and Ali Peek likewise came off the bench to combine for 41 points and 18 rebounds.

A victory by the Texters, foiled to accomplish a Grand Slam last season by Petron, tonight will move them halfway of becoming the first franchise since Great Taste in 1985 to repeat as Philippine Cup champions.

Talk ‘N Text, too, is looking to win its fifth PBA championship.

Powerade, on the other hand, is eyeing to nail down a third championship after winning a title each in the 2002 and 2003 seasons when it was still known as Coca-Cola.