PBA Philippine Cup Finals gets going

Game today:

Araneta Coliseum

6:45 p.m. Talk N Text vs. Rain or Shine

BOTH EXPECTING a tough grind, the defending champions Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters begin their titular showdown as Game 1 of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven Finals gets underway tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s going to be difficult as it’s going to be physical. There are things that they love to do that we also love to do. But someone has to give,” Talk ’N Text coach Norman Black said in a pba.ph report.

Talk ’N Text is in its sixth finals appearance in the last seven conferences, looking to become the first in nearly three decades to win three straight All-Filipino crowns.

Talk ’N Text advanced to the Finals by dispatching the Alaska Aces in their best-of-seven semifinals series. The Texters needed six games and had to go through a 2-2 tie to eliminate the Aces.

Rain or Shine also needed six matches to bring down the San Mig Coffee Mixers in their own semifinal battle but had an easier outing after building a big 3-1 lead en route to winning the series, 4-2.

“I don’t think we have the advantage over Talk ’N Text. We’ll just be relentless. And I hope we’re going to be tough enough not to be the one that’s gonna give,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

Rain or Shine is looking a second straight crown after nailing its first-ever title in last season’s Governors’ Cup.

Guiao, who is looking for his first All-Filipino crown, said his team is the underdog in the series since it will be playing against a Talk ’N Text team that has won five crowns in the last four seasons.

“Alam namin dehado kami. Against Ginebra (in the quarters), underdog kami. Against San Mig Coffee, di rin kami favored. Lalo na syempre against Talk ’N Text, pero gusto namin iyon,” said Guiao. “Mas madami sila sa experience at championships. Kami isa lang, pero enough na ‘yon. Mas marami silang talent, kami barya-barya lang – no superstars but that’s enough.”

Black said the championship series is not about who’s the underdog and who’s the favorite.

“Who decides who’s the favorite and who’s the underdog in the first place? And does it count? One needs to win four games to win this series,” said Black.

“I don’t care how the series goes. All we want is to win four games. If it goes four games, it goes four games. If it goes seven, it goes seven,” added Black. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA