Going for record sweep vs E-painters: Texters at history’s doorstep
Game tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
6:45 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Rain or Shine
MANILA, Philippines - An unprecedented third straight PBA Philippine Cup championship via sweep is a great milestone for Talk n Text after the Tropang Texters kept their domination of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Sunday, making it 3-0 in their best-of-seven title showdown.
For coach Norman Black and his Tropa, day of reckoning is Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ironically, the Texters could find themselves their worst enemy as they go for a feat never done in the long history of Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao has conceded defeat, saying they will just try to delay as long as they can the Talk n Text championship celebration.
Blowing an 11-point lead in their 80-89 defeat in Game Three, the Elasto Painters are now languishing in a hole – 0-3 – no team in league history has ever come out to win a title.
“Gagawa ng history? Ni hindi nga kami makaisa eh,†Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao answered in jest when asked whether they’re not thinking of making history of their own.
To steal the crown, Rain or Shine must win four in a row against a team they have never beaten in all their last six matches in the all-Filipino tourney.
“We’ll just try to delay their party or celebration,†said Guiao.
As sweep beckons, the Texters, meanwhile, vow to go for it, making it the icing on their three-peat cake.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position to score a sweep. And so we’ll definitely go for it,†Black said.
Only two teams in PBA best-of-seven finals have swept their way to championship.
Curiously, Guiao was the first coach to carve the feat in the 1992 third conference with the Tony Harris-reinforced Swift Mighty Meaty team against Seven-Up and import Dell Demps. Coach Ryan Gregorio and Purefoods matched that achievement versus coach Tim Cone and his then Alaska team in the 2010 Philippine Cup.
In his previous 10 titles, the closest Black came to a 4-0 sweep were four 4-1 victories.
“Normally, I don’t talk about a sweep as I think it’s impossible (to achieve),†said Black.
Guiao hit officiating in Game Three, citing specific calls that he thought ruined their chance to win. He then appealed for the league commissioner to take a look at it.
“The officiating has been fair and square. And it will continue to be so. No team will receive help from the referees.†The players will decide the game,†PBA commissioner Chito Salud answered.