MANILA, Philippines – What one team gives the other team promises to give back, hinting at an all-out war in Game Four of the Talk n Text-San Miguel Beer showdown for the PBA Philippine Cup crown.
Intensity is likely to pick up as Talk n Text once again seeks to move in the threshold of the championship while San Miguel tries to catch up in the fourth game of their best-of-seven titular duel at the Araneta Coliseum today.
Passion and emotion could run high in the 6 p.m. tussle since animosity between the two teams has set in following hard fouls thrown towards the end of Game Three.
Bludgeoned Friday night, the Beermen vowed they would come out in Game Four ready to engage the Texters in a battle they want.
League commissioner Chito Salud assessed yesterday Talk n Text reserves Mark Yee and Emmerson Oreta fines of P10,000 and P5,000 for their fouls on Sunday Salvacion and Alex Cabagnot, respectively.
Still, Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes stressed he fielded the two players towards the end of the game with no malicious intent at all.
Nonetheless, Reyes said they would also be ready for any eventuality in tonight’s game.
“Of course, that’s basketball,” said Reyes.
The Beermen set out for Game Four pissed off by the hits inflicted them by the TnT reserves in the closing minutes of Game Three.
“They came in for their main guys. They’re in there obviously to hurt somebody. That’s what they wanted. But we can play like that too,” said San Miguel ace center/forward Jay Washington.
“We’ll not just take their cheap shots. We’ll get back at them,” said SMB forward Arwind Santos.
Before Game Four, the winner of the Best Player of the Conference award will be named. The candidates are Washington, Santos, Talk n Text’s Harvey Carey and Ali Peek, and Alaska’s Joe De Vance.
Special guests are the Willing Willie dancers.
San Miguel fought with great resolve Friday and went on to stop Talk n Text, 103-82.
SMB coach Ato Agustin said they’ve found the formula how to beat Talk n Text and he sees no reason why they can’t do it again in Game Four.
“We’ve got one and we have to keep going,” said Agustin.
“We’ve made the right adjustments and we’ll stick with it as we try to get more wins,” said Washington.
Talk n Text, however, is likely to make their own adjustments with Ryan Reyes set to return from the United States where he attended the burial of his younger brother Allan Raymond.
“Hopefully, Ryan gets back in time. But even if he makes it, the question is how physically fit he is. For sure, he’s tired and sleepy,” said Reyes.
“We have to win it with this group (those present in Game Three). This group has to step up. If not, it’s a tough one. We have to find a way to win with this group and not rely on Ryan,” the TnT mentor added.
Reyes is hoping their Game Three blowout loss serves as wakeup call for them.
“They made a great adjustment and we were not ready. It’s incumbent upon us to counter and we’ll see Sunday,” said Reyes.