Game Today: (Araneta Coliseum)

6:30 p.m. – Best Player of the Conference Award
6:45 p.m. – Powerade vs. Talk ‘N Text


BEFORE midnight, Powerade’s Cinderella story could go poof.

Even then, it has truly been a magical ride for these Tigers, an over-achieving franchise that simply cannot match the awesome firepower of Talk ‘N Text.

History awaits the Tropang Texters tonight as the defending champions aim to end a 27-year PBA drought over teams seeking to repeat as Philippine Cup champions, eyeing to finish off Powerade’s unbelievable run via a rare sweep in Game Four at the Araneta Coliseum.

“So far, we have done a great job regarding mental discipline,” Reyes said. “So we’ll just stick to that thinking – to be concerned only of the next possession of the next game. Again, we should be prepared for another onslaught from Gary David and Marcio Lassiter.

“They’re just going out there and play with their hearts out. Play very free, relax basketball and that’s always dangerous. We know how Powerade feels and thinks right now. We’ve got to take that into heart. In Game One, we took the first step. In Game Two the big step.

In Game Three the biggest step. Now we have to make the final step.”

Talk ‘N Text is in a position that’s never been overcome, ever. The Texters’ 3-0 lead is a safe advantage as history dictates, with no franchise even coming close to extending the best-of-seven series to a deciding Game Seven in the 11 times that it has occurred.

“Now we have to be prepared for a team that has nothing to lose,” said Chot Reyes.

The depth and experience of the Texters were once again at their finest in Game Three the other night. They survived a 36-point performance from David, and were the ones who were undeniably better in overtime in a 133-126 victory.

Talk ‘N Text has four chances to wrap this thing up and clinch its fifth championship since barging into the league in 1996 as Mobiline.

But the most important accomplishment  of all is to become the first back-to-back Philippine Cup champion, something that has never been done since Great Taste – with legendary players William ‘Bogs’ Adornado and Ricardo Brown in the roster – achieved it in the 1984 and 1985 seasons.

Powerade, which made history by becoming the worst-seeded team (eighth) to advance to the Finals, actually had a chance to cut the series deficit to within 2-1 in Game Three and add some ingredient of suspense in this series.

But the Tigers could no longer deliver in overtime. David went 0-of-5 from the field in that stretch, no longer a factor after seeing action for 48 minutes.

“Pagod na talaga,” said Tigers’ coach Bo Perasol.

On the one hand, the Texters still had fresh legs.

Ranidel de Ocampo had five points in extra time, and Talk ‘N Text’s experience soared again against a team that previously had not stepped onto the quarter-final round for seven straight conferences.

What did not come as a surprise was the Texters’ domination in points coming off the bench. They were simply overpowering, collecting 88 points from players coming in as reserves, with the Tigers only drawing eight from their second unit.

Through the three games combined, Talk ‘N Text’s shock troopers have outscored Powerade’s, 214-40.

Wow!

That is something Perasol and his coaching staff have not adjusted to, failing to get contributions from Celino Cruz, Josh Vanlandingham, and Rommel Adducul. Rudy Lingganay, who started out in Game One for the injured JV Casio and scored 13 points, was surprisingly not fielded in Game Two and only saw action for six minutes in Game Three and had zero production.

In a situation that’s hopeless, Powerade’s aim is just to salvage some pride.

“We’re just thinking of getting one win,” said Perasol. “Even if we’re down 0-3, we still keep the fight that’s in us. It really doesn’t matter whether we’re going to go 0-4 against them for as long as we understand the way we played.”

Perasol just hopes that they can make stops in the crucial parts of the game.

“It’s not in our genes to defend very well,” he said. “But we have to make stops when it’s necessary. Kapos lang talaga kami against TNT.

But I couldn’t ask for more from my players.”

If Talk  ‘N Text wins tonight, it will only be the sixth sweep in a best-of-seven series. The last time a sweep was accomplished was by Purefoods against Alaska in the 2008-09 Philippine Cup.