All indications seem to point to a thriller of a title playoff that may go down to the last game, last basket or to the last man.
Coca-Cola and Talk N Text begin their title showdown at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Cuneta Astrodome. It is expected to be drama-fraught with the Tigers aiming for a title-repeat while the Phone Pals go for their very first crown in the league.
And the battle of wits from the bench may take a different perspective altogether with some divine intervention, if Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes is to be believed.
"Parang naniniwala ako sa sinabi nya sa tv because he’s enjoying a charmed season," said Reyes in reaction to Banal’s remarks that God had a hand in their gaining their first-ever trip to the PBA All-Filipino Finals.
"I just hope we’ll be equally blessed," Reyes added.
With the Phone Pals fighting their way to the playoff, Banal, a devoted Christian, said they would indeed do their part and hopefully God would lead them to the championship. "We do our job and with God’s will and God’s grace, makukuha namin iyan," he said.
If the Phone Pals do go all the way to finally earn ultimate glory in the league, Banal will enter a new chapter in PBA history, becoming only the second coach working on an interim basis to win a championship. Ryan Gregorio did this with Purefoods in the Governors Cup last year while then head coach Eric Altamirano on loan to the Philippine team.
If ever, Banal would also become only the fifth individual in the PBA to win a championship first as a player then as a coach. He would join in the short list now with Sen. Robert Jaworski, Rino Salazar, Ely Capacio and Norman Black. Banal played for Great Taste from 1981-86, winning four championships.
"Nakakatakot si Joel. He’s really having a great season what with his accomplishments with Ateneo-Pioneer in the PBL, Ateneo in the UAAP and now with Talk N Text," said Reyes, who had also mentored teams in the PBL (Burger Machine) and in the UAAP (his alma mater Ateneo) but didn’t have as much luck as Banal.
"Kita mo naman panalo na ang Alaska. Lamang na ng four points plus ball possession in the last 50 seconds of regulation play (in the sudden death Sunday), natalo pa," he added.
Many consider this title series a Fil-Am bash for Talk N Text’s Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey and Coca-Cola’s Jeffrey Cariaso, Rudy Hatfield and Rafi Revies.
But the bench will be as much a factor.
"No question on our part, our bench will be a key factor because of the type of game we play," said Reyes. "We thrive on pressure defense, trapping and running. And in the finals, we have to use the things that got us here."
"Definitely, our reserves will count a lot in this series. We have played a total of 26 games already, five in the semis with three going into overtime. At ilan na lang kami," said Banal.
Talk N Text is down to nine players with Vic Pablo nursing a leg injury and Noli Locsin, Norman Gonzales and Long David suspended for alleged illegal drug use. Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is hobbled by injuries to Freddie Abuda, Johnny Abarrientos and William Antonio.
Although both teams live on hustle and run-and-gun, Reyes sees his team as the one in need of help from the bench.
"Kasi ang Talk N Text minsan nagpapahinga. They can afford to do that kasi pwede silang pumunta kay Asi (Taulava) who can dominate his defender. On defense, they can also enjoy the luxury of playing the zone kasi nandiyan na naman si Asi para tumayo sa gitna,"
Reyes explained. "With our lineup, kapag umalis kami sa trapping and running, tapos na kami," he added.
Reyes particularly mentioned Ato Morano and Chris Bolado as among his shock-troopers who will have tough tasks at hand in the series. He said: "Si Ato ang kukuha kay Jimmy Alapag at si Jumbo (Bolado) kakailanganin namin para kay Asi."
With a short nine-man rotation, no doubt, Banal would need to squeeze juice from his bench. The good thing is that Talk N Text reserves Patrick Fran, Felix Belano, Kahi Villa and Jojo Manalo have been responding well as of late.