Tropang Texters start bid to become first team in 27 years to defend AFC crown

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters will try to add another piece of jewel to their colorful history as they aim to become the first team in 27 years to defend the PBA All-Filipino Cup title.

They start that quest today when they take on the upstart Powerade Tigers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven finals series in Digos, Davao del Sur.

The Texters already became just the third team in league history to come all the way back from a 1-3 deficit when they beat the Petron Blaze Boosters in a thrilling Game 7 encounter in the semifinals.

Talk ‘N Text completed its remarkable comeback by defeating the Boosters, 92-91, last Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Talk ‘N Text will try to duplicate the feat of Great Taste, which won back-to-back titles in the All-Filipino Conference in 1984 and 1985. Apart from the Coffee Makers, the only other PBA franchise to have defended an All-Filipino title is Crispa in 1976-77, 1979-80 and 1983-84.

Powerade also made history as it became the first eighth-seeded team to enter the championship round after outlasting Rain or Shine, 107-98, in Game 7 of their own semifinals series.

Ironically, Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes coached the Coca-Cola franchise, which was then still part of the San Miguel Corporation, to the title against the San Miguel Beermen in the Reinforced Conference finals in 2003.

Reyes was also the coach of the Tigers in 2004 when the franchise drafted a hotshot rookie shooting guard named Gary David with the last pick of the first round that year.