B-Meg out to end it vs Talk N Text

MANILA, Philippines - Is Talk n Text just gathering new steam and conserving energy to pull off yet another amazing feat? Or are the Tropang Texters a spent force, burnt out by the long, tough grind they’ve gone through the last two seasons?

Will B-Meg be able to make one final push to wrap up the crown? Or will the Llamados fumble again as what happened in Games Two and Four?

These questions will be answered tonight as B-Meg goes for the clincher while Talk n Text tries to live another day in Game Six of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven titular showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

Coaches Tim Cone and Chot Reyes said it’s incumbent upon them to get their teams in the best shape and condition possible for this game set at 6:45 p.m.

Reyes, however, seems to be casting doubts on whether his team still has got the energy and will to salvage the series.

But it’s just hard to write off a team that has survived five do-or-die games in the season, winning the Philippine Cup championship along the way.

“Sometimes, you’ve got to know when there’s still something left. Baka naman wala na talaga (There may be no more),” said Reyes.

The Texters have played up to the final game of each of the last five conferences – a dominant but exhausting run that have netted them three championships in all so far.

They want another crown but the question really is whether they’ve still got the legs and determination to squeeze it through. 

“The way we’re playing, it’s dubious. We play well one game, then absent the next game. We need to think hard about our desire to win the series,” said Reyes.

The Texters had been in a deeper hole – 1-3 down – but survived versus the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Cup semifinals. Then they found themselves pushed to the brink before rallying to win their semis duel with the Barako Bull Energy in this conference.

Reyes, however, insists they’re facing a different situation now.

“Against Petron, we were fresh because it was only the start of the season, which is why we managed to come back and win the series. Against Barako, we were up against a team not as deep and as talented as this B-Meg squad,” Reyes pointed out.

Cone, meanwhile, said they fought hard to get into this situation and they should not blow away this opportunity to finish the series on top.

Treating Game Five as a do-or-die setto, the Llamados put in all they’ve got on the floor and clobbered the Texters, 82-66, for the pivotal 3-2 lead in the series.

“We gave absolutely all to win (Game 5). It took us tremendous effort to win and I hope we still have something left in us for the next game,” said Cone.

“The pressure obviously is on the team that needs to win two in a row. It’s for us to close out the series,” Cone added.

“We worked hard to get the 3-2 lead. So why not work hard all the way to win the championship,” said B-Meg top gun James Yap.

Yap and company hope to end the Texters’ title reign and take their turn to be on the zenith of glory. The Llamados are in chase of a ninth crown while Cone is after a 14th championship.

Can a serious powwow help the Texters get out of the bind?

“Motivation is overrated. Players have to be self-motivated. You can give them speeches but, at this point, we just have to decide if we have to give it a final push,” said Reyes.