RoS, TNT begin title duel

CEBU, Philippines - No less than the league commissioner likens it to a Pacquiao-Marquez fight while one player sees it as a WWE (wrestling) match.

What’s expected to be a dogfight of a title showdown begins today as Talk n Text and Rain or Shine square off in Game One of the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven finale at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters are the reigning back-to-back all-Filipino titlists aching to stretch their dynasty while the Elasto Painters are the league’s most recent champs seething with their desire to prove their breakthrough triumph wasn’t a fluke.

The two teams start their interesting title showdown at 6:45 p.m. tonight at the Big Dome.

After their final workout yesterday, both teams declared they’re ready to go hammer and tongs against one another.

“We will play as physical as long as the referees will allow. Referees will decide the limit of the physicality of the battle,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, hinting at how rugged the battle can be.

With their own hard-nosed players, Talk n Text won’t surely back down, though.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud himself anticipated a battle that he stressed the two teams can engage in a physical game but unnecessary roughness won’t be permitted.

“No touch foul. The refs will only call what is obvious and clear contact. But this doesn’t permit unnecessary roughness,” Salud warned.

Guiao insists they’re the underdogs but TnT coach Norman Black doesn’t buy, saying the games will have to be won on the hard court.

The records are on TnT’s side. In five meetings from the Philippine Cup last season, Talk n Text has lost to Rain or Shine just once. In the current tourney, the Texters have lost only four games and none against the Elasto Painters.

Nonetheless, the Elasto Painters are as hopeful as they can be. The fiery RoS mentor is confident their advantage in youth and hunger can carry them to victory.

“We remain the youngest among the 10 teams. Prior to the last conference, nobody in our team had any championship experience. Now they have one, and one is enough for us to go for another one,” said Guiao.

Age and hunger may really factor in the series but not against the Texters as they do believe.  (Philippine STAR News Service)