Even before the start of the series, San Miguel ace gunner Danny Seigle declared they would win the championship if they would be able to impose their game on the Phone Pals. The Beermen did that in winning the first two games of the series.
"We took full control in the first game. In the second game, they played their game in the first half but were not able to sustain it in the second half. At endgame, laro na namin ang naging laban," said San Miguel guard Olsen Racela.
The Beermen scored a 74-66 win in Game One and an 81-79 cliffhanger in Game Two. It was the first time in Talk n Text’s last 80 games that the team was held under 80 points in two straight games. The Phone Pals averaged 95 points a game in the tourney before facing the Beermen in the finals.
Racela also noted that Asi Taulava’s return to the TnT fold played a big factor in losing some of Talk n Text offensive clout.
"They play half-court with Asi in the game. They’re playing him at the post at the expense of their running game and this favors us because it’s our kind of game, " said Racela.
But San Miguel coach Jong Uichico said they have to be ready as he expects some adjustments to be made in Talk n Text’s game.
"As it is, they’re tough to play because they have so many weapons you have to contend with," said Uichico.
"This series is far from over. Talk n Text has been in this situation before and they were able to survive and win the championship," added Uichico, referring to the Phone Pals’ conquest of the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2002 All-Filipino Finals.
The Phone Pals also trailed 0-2 in that series but snared the championship by winning the next four games. Talk n Text had looked headed for an equalizer in Game Two when it jumped the gun on San Miguel, taking a 20-point bulge early in the third quarter.
But San Miguel narrowed the gap to nine, 58-67, by the end of the third and pressed its bid in the fourth quarter, surging ahead to stay at 81-79 on a baseline drive by Danny Ildefonso versus Taulava in the last six seconds.
That crucial play exposed Taulava, who was slow to react to Ildefonso’s crucial layup.