History in the making

Three teams remain in contention to face Talk ‘N’ Text in the PBA Governors Cup finals starting Sunday with only two games left in the semifinal calendar. 1When the smoke clears after the twinbill hostilities end tonight, we’ll know if Petron, Alaska or Barangay Ginebra will take on the Tropang Texters in the best-of-seven title playoffs.

For Talk ‘N’ Text, immortality is within reach. It will be in elite company if the Texters capture the third conference crown to complete a Grand Slam this season, only the fourth franchise to achieve the feat after Crispa in 1976 and 1983, San Miguel Beer in 1989 and Alaska in 1996. No team has been able to collect three titles in a season in 15 years.

Talk ‘N’ Text coach Chot Reyes isn’t taking anything for granted, for sure recalling that seven clubs came close to clinching a Grand Slam only to be derailed in the third conference. Toyota was the first to experience the frustration in 1975, then Crispa in 1977, Great Taste in 1985, Tanduay in 1986, Sunkist in 1995, Alaska in 1998 and Barangay Ginebra in 2004-05, counting the transition Fiesta Conference.

The team that advances to battle Talk ‘N’ Text will be remembered in history as either the Tropa’s foil or the spoiler. So history also beckons the other finalist.

The first game in tonight’s doubleheader pits Ginebra (7-5) against Rain Or Shine (6-6). The Elasto Painters are no longer in the running for a finals slot since they can only go up to 7-6 and Alaska is ahead at 8-5. If Ginebra beats Rain Or Shine, the Kings improve to 8-5, tying the Aces. If Ginebra loses, it will drop out of title contention.

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If Ginebra wins and Petron (7-5) beats Talk ‘N’ Text (9-3) in the nightcap, there will be a three-way tie for second spot with Alaska. Ginebra, Petron and Alaska will end up with identical 8-5 records. To break the logjam, the scores of the teams against each other will be computed to determine the highest quotient. In this eventuality, Petron will advance to the finals with a +13 advantage compared to Alaska’s +6 and Ginebra’s -17.

If Ginebra wins and Petron loses to the Tropa, there will be a two-way tie for second spot with Alaska. In this case, Ginebra gets a free ride to the finals because it has a higher conference quotient than Alaska with a +21 to the Aces’ +16. The conference quotient will be the decider because Alaska and Ginebra split their series, 1-1, with the same winning margin.

If Ginebra loses and Petron wins, there will be a two-way tie for second spot with Alaska. In this case, Alaska will make it to the finals because of a +6 edge in two games against Petron. If both Ginebra and Petron lose, Alaska books the ticket to the title series outright.

For Ginebra to advance, the Kings must beat Rain Or Shine and pray that Talk ‘N’ Text defeats Petron. For Petron to advance, the Blaze Boosters must repulse Talk ‘N’ Text and pray that Ginebra beats the Elasto Painters. For Alaska to advance, the Aces will pray for Ginebra to lose.

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Theoretically, Talk ‘N’ Text can choose its finals opponent if Ginebra beats Rain Or Shine. If the Tropa bows to Petron, the Texters will battle the Boosters in the finals. If the Tropa beats Petron, it will face Ginebra. If Ginebra loses to Rain Or Shine, the Petron-Talk ‘N’ Text encounter becomes academic since Alaska will go to the finals regardless of which team wins in tonight’s second game. 

But don’t expect Reyes to play footsies with Petron even if Ginebra wins in the first contest. Reyes isn’t the type of coach to pick opponents – he’s out to win every game, no matter the implications. The speculation that Talk ‘N’ Text will deliberately lose to Petron to avoid a finals confrontation with Ginebra is hogwash. Neither Talk ‘N’ Text as a franchise nor Reyes will compromise the integrity of the game although in this scenario, it’s admittedly tempting.

Besides, Reyes is confident that whichever team the Texters face in the finals won’t stand a chance because there’s no reversing the call of destiny. If Talk ‘N’ Text is truly destined to bag the Grand Slam, it won’t matter which other team advances to the finals. But it remains to be seen if the Texters’ adversary winds up a foil or a spoiler.