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| Sean Anthony's double-double was a huge factor in helping the Tigers extend the series to a fifth game. (image by Paul Ryan Tan/InterAKTV.com) |
POWERADE TIGERS over TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS, 100-97
“I’ll be arrogant if I say we can come back. I’ll just say it’s doable,” said Powerade
coach Bo Perasol on their chance to salvage the series.
Realistically, even “doable” is a bit farfetched.
By scraping past (emphasis on SCRAPING) the seemingly indomitable TNT Tropang Texters yesterday, the Powerade Tigers may have found renewed vigor in their quest to be the ultimate Cinderella team in PBA history.
But the history of professional basketball doesn’t seem to agree with the Tigers’ chief desire.
As far as I know, no team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole in PBA history, and even in the NBA, teams that have gone up 3-0 in a 7-game series have come out on top 94 of out 94 times (as of last season).
Frankly speaking, no basketball team has ever come back from that kind of deficit to win four straight games in a win-or-go-home scenario. And in the Finals at that. And against, arguably, the deepest roster in the league.
No way.
Ain’t going to happen.
But don’t let the Tigers hear that. They won’t believe it anyway. They’ll just claw their way and hope for the best in Game 5. If necessary, they’ll do the same in Game 6, too. If the basketball gods are crazy, then maybe we’ll have a Game 7. And if the Tigers do manage to rewrite history, then that will be the day pigs can finally fly.
Doable coach Bo? That’s farfetched.
But farfetched is not impossible.
After the JUMP à the compressed game recap from PBA.ph:
Gary David didn’t disappoint on a night he was crowned the tournament MVP, leading the Powerade charge as the Tigers foiled the Talk n Text Tropang Texters’ sweep bid in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
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| Gary David hoists his Best Player of the Conference trophy moments before Powerade embarked on an improbable triumph against the Texters. (image by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com) |
Before a crowd of over 12,000 at the Araneta Coliseum, David and the Tigers gutted it out to force a Game Five in the best-of-seven titular. Sean Anthony churned out a double-double performance, and the Powerade bench provided ample help as the Tigers survived what’s already their fourth do-or-die game in the tourney.
David provided the lead and his teammates followed as they fought with great resolve and pulled through even though they were held to only a single field goal in the last four minutes of play. They built 14-point spreads in the first half and were still in command at 92-81 before facing a determined Talk n Text chase at the finish.
The Texters had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag missed a three-point try each in the closing seconds.
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes rued how their frontliners didn’t do their job. Ranidel de Ocampo was notably a non-factor, going 1-of-8 from the field and 1-of-3 from the stripe for just three points.
David played every inch as the tournament MVP, firing 35 points – his 10th 30+ game in the playoffs and 13th overall in the tourney. Anthony tallied 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter, Doug Kramer and Romel Adducul each added double-digit outputs.
Larry Fonacier topscored for TNT with 20 points with Castro and Alapag winding up with 18 apiece.
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| Larry Fonacier finished with 20 points to lead TNT's losing cause as they will have to wait at least one more game before they may be crowned champs. (image by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com) |
POW 100 - David 35, Anthony 19, Lassiter 13, Kramer 11, Adducul 10, Casio 7, Lingganay 3, Vanlandingham 2, Cruz 0, Crisano 0.
TNT 97 - Fonacier 20, Castro 18, Alapag 18, Carey 11, Reyes 10, Peek 8, Williams 7, De Ocampo 3, Dillinger 2, Aguilar 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.
QS: 25-23, 53-43, 75-75, 100-97
Source: Game recap was compressed and compiled from PBA.ph
1 Comment
talk n text:)
Balas