TNT Draws First Blood

Defending champions Talk N Text Tropang Texters had a seemingly easy Game 1 victory over upset-minded Powerade Tigers, 116-100. Point guard Jason Castro led the star-studded TNT with an all-around performance of 23 points along with 6 boards and 8 dimes. Hard working forward Sean Anthony carried the scoring duties with 23 points for the Powerade side, which missed the services of starting point guard Jayvee Casio due to injury.

Talk N Text showed why they are the defending champs early in the game. They posted double digit advantage and never looked back as early as the first quarter. With a clear lineup advantage, TNT had 6 players in double figure scoring. Jason Castro was almost unstoppable driving to the basket, creating his own shot or kicking to an open teammate. Coach Chot Reyes made a good job shuffling his talented players with no Texter logged more than 33 mins.

King Tiger Gary David struggled throughout the game and made only 5 of 15 from the field and zero 3pt made. He scored 19 points, his lowest so far in the 2011-12 Philippine Cup Playoffs. The Tigers offense was visibly terrible, greatly missing the orchestration of Casio. Rookie Marcio Lassiter also contributed 19 in a losing effort. Powerade actually shot well on the field with 42.3% but it was their defense that made the difference, allowing TNT 51.8% field goal shooting.

Scores:

TALK ‘N TEXT 116 – Castro, 23, Reyes 15, Dillinger 15, Fonacier 14, De Ocampo 14, Peek 13, Alapag 9, Aguilar 6, Carey 4, Williams 3, Gamalinda 0, Raymundo 0.

POWERADE 100 – Anthony 23, David 19, Lassiter 19, Lingganay 13, Kramer 12, Cruz 4, Antonio 3, Vanlandingham 3, Adducul 2, Crisano 2, Allera 0.

Quarterscores: 38-21, 68-52,96-81, 116-100

2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Finals Preview

After two fierce Game 7's, the dust has settled and the smoke has cleared. Two deserving teams left, but only one championship. Who will be crown king of Philippine Basketball? Let's take a closer look.

On the way to the Finals

A clear underdog, the Powerade Tigers made believers from doubters in their incredible playoff run. After completing an epic upset against top-seed B-Meg in the quarters, the Tigers roared their way against a highly physical, and sometimes dirty, Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters. Before Game 7 of their semifinals, E-Painters' coach Yeng Guiao commented on the Tigers being a "3-man team", referring to the Tigers' Big Three of Gary David, Marcio Lassiter, and Jayvee Casio. The Coca-Cola franchise responded with a total team effort, with 6 players in double digit scoring, to eliminate the E-Painters and booked the first Finals seat. Led by 2-time scoring champ Gary David, the Tigers showed they are tough to beat when everybody is involved offensively.

The other Finals protagonist is no newcomer to the PBA's biggest stage. The Talk N' Text Tropang Texters has been in all three Finals last season, and just one win short from a historic PBA Grandslam. The Texters has fought tooth-and-nail in the most competitive PBA Semis ever, against the team that spoiled their almost perfect season last year, the Petron Blaze Boosters. Jayson Castro, arguably the league's best point guard (although teammate Jimmy Alapag and Booster's Alex Cabagnot have something to say about that), carried a loaded but limping defending champions on a 92-91 decision. Castro has scored 21, helping the TNT erase the Petron's 3-1 series lead.

The Finals Push

But to compete against the defending champs and highly favored TNT, the Tigers must be able to make sure everybody has to contribute. Floor generals Casio and Celino Cruz must look for their open teammates to get them involved. Marcio Lassiter must be consistent with his scoring day in and day out. The front court duo of Doug Kramer and Sean Anthony must also provide muscle inside the paint on both ends of the court to against the more superior bigs of TNT. Of course, Gary David. After averaging close to 30 points in the Semis, David must be able to play decoy and share the ball as he is expected to be a marked man in just his second Finals appearance.

For TNT, their main concern is to stay away from injuries. On paper, the have a clear edge on talent and depth, but these advantages will not equate into wins if their top players won't be able to play 100%. Coach Chot needs to distribute playing minutes in his players so as to avoid possible unnecessary injuries. Also, TNT has a tendency to play more one-on-one as Petron out assisted them in their Semis encounter. Sharing the ball could make basketball easier for TNT with reigning MVP Alapag and Castro directing their offense. With former MVP Kelly Williams still playing hurt, the highly criticized Japeth Aguilar must step up big time and show why he was chosen No. 1 during the 2009 PBA draft.

I believe that this year's PBA Philippine Cup finals will be nothing short of a war. The two teams will try to write history, one to become the first 8th-seed champion and the other the first to defend and all-Filipino since the 80's. Game 1 kicks off later 6:45PM at Digos City in Davao Sur.

photo courtesy of InterAktv