Araw ng Paghuhusga

MANILA, Philippines - Apat na koponan para sa dalawang finals ticket.

Magtatapat ang nagdedepensang Talk ‘N Text at ang Petron Blaze ngayong alas-7:30 ng gabi matapos ang banggaan ng Rain or Shine at Powerade sa alas-5:15 ng hapon sa Game Seven ng kani-kanilang semifinals series para sa 2011-2012 PBA Philippine Cup sa Cuneta Astrodome sa Pasay City.

Parehong nagtabla sa 3-3 ang mga best-of-seven semifinals wars ng Tropang Texters at Boosters at Elasto Painters at Tigers para sa dalawang pares na ‘winner-take-all’ matches.

‘We’re going down to Game Seven for all the marbles,” ani coach Chot Reyes ng Talk ‘N Text laban sa Petron ni Ato Agustin. “We are raring to go, and hopefully, we have saved our best for Wednesday.”

Tinalo ng Tropang Texters ang Boosters, 111-108, sa Game Six noong Linggo.

“Three-all. May chance pa sa Wednesday. We just have to work on our mistakes sa mga lapses namin. Babawi kami. We’ll work on it, sisikapin naming manalo sa Game Seven,” wika ni Agustin.

Sina 2011 PBA Most Valuable Player Jimmy Ala­pag, Kelly Williams, Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo at Ryan Reyes ang muling babandera para sa Talk ‘N Text katapat sina two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Joseph Yeo at rookie Chris Lutz ng Petron.

Binigo naman ng Rain or Shine ang Powerade, 112-98, sa Game Six upang itabla ang kanilang serye.

“Going into Wednesday game we’ll be fresher than they are. Tatlo lang ang naglalaro sa kabila eh,” sabi ni Elasto Painters’ mentor Yeng Guiao kina Gary David, No. 1 overall pick JVee Casio at Marcio Lassiter. “Gary (David), (Marcio ) Lassiter and (JVee) Casio are playing extending minutes. So we’re putting the pressure on them offensively and defensively.”

Pangungunahan nina No. 2 overall pick Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Beau Belga, Larry Rodriguez at Ronjay Buenafe ang Rain or Shine kontra kina David, Casio, Lassiter, Sean Anthony at Doug Kramer ng Powerade.

“We were outplayed, outgunned and outhustled as simple as that,” wika ni Perasol sa kanilang ka­biguan.

“If we’re going to be a team that will make history, we have to play better than that,” dagdag pa ni Perasol.

Ang Tigers ang No. 8 team matapos ang elimination round at sinibak ang No. 1 B-Meg sa quarter­fi­­nals para makaharap ang Elasto Painters sa se­­­mifinals.