In the homestretch

Talk ‘N’ Text has a foot in the door of becoming only the fourth PBA team to bag a grand slam after Crispa in 1976 and 1983, San Miguel Beer in 1989 and Alaska in 1996. The Tropang Texters are safely in the Governors Cup finals waiting for an opponent to be determined in the last four games of the semifinals.

Coach Chot Reyes is in the homestretch of a long journey that began with the Texters beating San Miguel, 4-2, for the Philippine Cup crown and continued with a 4-2 triumph over Ginebra San Miguel in the Commissioner’s Cup finals. But while the happy ending is within reach, Reyes isn’t taking any chances. He knows whomever Talk ‘N’ Text faces in the third conference finals, the pressure will be on his team, not the other, because of what’s at stake. 

With a 9-3 record, Talk ‘N’ Text is now beyond reach of any team in contention. B-Meg is out of the picture, nursing a 5-7 record with a game against Petron to go. Still in the running are Alaska (7-5), Ginebra (7-5), Petron (6-5) and Rain Or Shine (6-5). The remaining games in the schedule are Petron vs B-Meg and Rain Or Shine vs. Alaska tonight and Rain Or Shine vs Ginebra and Petron vs Talk ‘N’ Text on Friday.

If the Elasto Painters win their last two games, they advance to the finals outright even if Petron manages to catch up at 8-5. That’s because Rain Or Shine has a higher quotient than the Blaze, beating Petron in the elims, 113-83, and the semifinals, 102-86. If Rain Or Shine loses just once more, it strikes out. 

If Alaska and Ginebra beat Rain Or Shine, they both improve to 8-5. In this situation, they tie for second place assuming Petron loses both or even one of its final games. Using the quotient system, Ginebra will advance to the finals over Alaska because of a higher conference quotient, plus 21 compared to the Aces’ plus 10. They are dead even in head-to-head quotients, each beating the other by four in their two matchups. If Petron beats B-Meg and Talk ‘N’ Text, it will join Alaska and Ginebra in a logjam for second with identical 8-5 records. In a three-way break, Petron moves up to the finals with a plus 13 quotient compared to Alaska’s plus 6 and Ginebra’s minus 17.

Alaska will advance to the finals if the Aces beat Rain Or Shine, Ginebra loses to Rain Or Shine and Petron loses even one of its last two games. This will bring Alaska’s record to 8-5 while Ginebra, Petron and Rain Or Shine drop to 7-6.

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 Last Monday night, Ma. Kristina Gregorio Macadaeg passed away after a brief battle with breast cancer. She was 34 and left behind her husband Neil (a La Salle engineering professor), parents Martin and Lucille, sister Cecille and brothers Pato, Allan and Ryan. Tintin was the youngest in the family and barely two years ago, was married in a beautiful ceremony at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church near Resorts World.

The wake is at the Assumption Hall of the Sta. Maria Della Strada parish church on Katipunan road. Cremation is scheduled this Saturday. Tintin went on the same day that President Cory died in 2009. She was diagnosed with cancer last May and confined at the Makati Medical Center for over a month. Then, Tintin returned home for three days and was admitted at the National Kidney Institute which is close to her workplace at UP.

“She is resting in peace now, forever with a radiant smile,” said Pato, Maynilad senior vice president and Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines secretary-general. “Indeed, we must get inspiration from adversity and trials. She passed away so peacefully just how she wanted it. She told us last Saturday she was ready to meet Jesus. As a matter of fact, she said Mama Mary told her everything will be alright. When we asked her if she saw Mama Mary, she said yes and Mama Mary looked like our Lady of Lourdes. Tintin is happy now. No more pain, no more suffering. So our family must be strong because Tintin wants us to be strong.”

Papa Martin was overwhelmed by the expression of love and concern from friends and relatives. “Mga kaibigan (at kamag-anak) ang nagbibigay sa amin ng sapat na lakas sa panahon ng matinding pagsubok,” said Papa Martin, a former UP professor and vice president who is a PBA enthusiast following his sons’ careers (Ryan as Meralco coach and Allan as Air21 team manager).

I know how it feels to lose a loved one in the family and the sole consolation is the realization that this is God’s will and only He knows there is a reason for everything that we sometimes find difficult to understand. Because of our faith, we accept it as God’s way. Our loved ones now rest with the Lord in eternal life. 

When Tintin fell ill, the Gregorios found strength in their belief in God, understanding that there is hope for recovery whether on earth or in heaven because in the end, the Lord will provide. They found comfort in the thought that a better place awaited Tintin.

I lost my father in 1986. It was he who influenced my love and passion for sports. He became my inspiration in my sports career and has guided me through the years. When my wife Menchu lost her mother two years ago, she also found a new inspiration in her volunteer work with the Muntinlupa center for abused women and children – an advocacy that was close to her mother’s heart.

Like my father to me and Menchu’s mother to her, Tintin will live forever as an inspiration to all whose lives she touched. She will be the beautiful guardian angel of her parents, brothers, sisters and friends. She will be the light to shine brightly in guiding all of us in our lives as we prepare to join her someday in heaven. She will be the source of strength in everything we do in God’s name. As Pato said, hers is a story of strength, love, inspiration and faith. May Tintin rest in peace with God.