Game today:
Araneta Coliseum
6 p.m.- Powerade vs. Talk ’N Text
After gaining a new lease on life, the Powerade Tigers try to make things more interesting as the look to once again stall the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters’ championship bid in today’s Game 5 of the 37th PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
Balloons didn’t drop from the rafters last Friday night when the Tigers gutted out a thrilling 100-97 win that cut the Texters’ series lead to 3-1.
Despite the loss, the Texters still have that commanding lead but another loss tonight will definitely change the complexion of the story.
“A definite cause for concern,” said Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes told pba.ph.
Reyes said the Texters were simply outworked by the Tigers in Game 4.
“They have the best wingmen in the league and we compensate with our bigs. But our big men were outscored, 40-29. We played soft and lost the game in the first half.”
Powerade avoided outright elimination behind Best Player of the Conference Gary David, who scored 35 points, 13 in the decisive fourth quarter.
No team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole in a best-of-seven series but Powerade isn’t just quitting yet.
“We’re not thinking one game at a time; we’re actually just thinking one game,” Perasol said. “We’re not trying to be antagonistic and say we can come back from one-three. We just want to compete as much as we can.”