WILL-IMPOSING HUNT BEGINS

DEFENDING champion Talk 'N Text and B-Meg start their PBA Commissioner's Cup championship series
Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with each aiming to impose its will over the other.

The protagonists have their respective advantages over the other and they are expected to use those
to the hilt in not only gaining the headstart but also stamping their class in the best-of-seven
duel.

The Tropang Texters have the advantage in terms of quickness and a well-stocked arsenal while the
Llamados boast of the edge in height and heft, plus a lockdown-style of game.

And with two noted tacticians both familiar and knowledgeable with each other, expect the series to
be a long, drawn-out affair.

“It will be close and it will be about who’s able to execute at the finish,” said TNT coach
Chot Reyes. 

“If they can play up-tempo, we may not have the chance. But if we can slow them down, make the
game ugly, then we have a chance,” said B-Meg's Tim Cone.

There are some numbers that further bolster the argument the series will be too close to call. 

The Texters emerged from the eliminations through the semifinals as the second-best offensive team
with an average of 100.43 points, while the Llamados come into the series as the No. 1 team
defensively after giving up an average of only 87.06 points.

Reyes believes that none of those stats, and his import-less team's 102-96 win over B-Meg in the
elims,  matter now.

“B-Meg has the depth advantage” Reyes said. “They are also fresher as we’re playing our
fifth Finals in a row.

“They have the advantage in size and we have the advantage in speed. As always, the series will be
won by the team that imposes its game and makes quick adjustments.”

Cone also points out his team should be banged up as well since B-Meg had to go through a one-game
playoff with Ginebra for the last automatic semifinal slot and, having lost that, went through a
three-game quarterfinal wringer against Meralco.

Besides, Cone added, more games together has its positive side.

“Yes, they’ve been playing a lot of games. But I feel on my experience, the experience you
gather doing it over and over again, winning in every conceivable way, makes your confidence
extremely high,” said Cone.

“That’s their edge. But I take that we’re fresh and hungry, and we’ll see how far that takes
us.” (NC)