One that got away

Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals could’ve and probably should’ve gone Talk ‘N’ Text’s way but in the end, it was San Mig Coffee squeezing out a close 77-75 decision before 12,486 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday.

Most of the stat departments were dominated by the Texters who had more fastbreak points 6-2, second chance points 16-9, turnover points 16-5, rebounds 50-47, bench points 31-10, triple conversions 10-3, offensive rebounds 24-11, field goal attempts 92-66, steals 7-3 and less turnovers, 7-13. Under ordinary circumstances, Talk ‘N’ Text would’ve opened a 2-1 series lead. The glaring advantage was in field goal tries where the Tropa had 26 more because coach Norman Black’s charges collected 13 more offensive boards and four more steals with six less turnovers.

Talk ‘N’ Text’s problem was its make rate fell below par, only 32.6 percent compared to the Mixers’ 48.5. Although the Texters had the majority of field goal attempts, San Mig’s defense made sure they missed more than they converted. In short, defense was the difference. In the series opener, San Mig won, 95-80, with a similar edge in field goal accuracy, 48.7 percent to 36.2. In Game 2, the Texters prevailed, 86-76, with the same advantage, hitting 45.1 percent to 37.1. The key barometer is marksmanship which indicates how tough the defense is, how much it allows the other side to score.

San Mig’s 1-2 punch of James Yap and P. J. Simon was the killer blow in the rubber match just like it was in Game 1. Yap and Simon combined for 33 points in Game 1 and 30 in Game 3. They sputtered with only 10 in Game 2 which the Mixers lost. Coach Tim Cone rested the two gunners in the fourth period of Game 2 after the Texters opened an 18-point lead. He didn’t want them burned out for Game 3 particularly as San Mig was coming off a tough five-game semifinal series against Air21. Game 3 was the Mixers’ eighth outing in 15 days but only the Texters’ sixth in 16 days. Cone was careful not to overextend his most dependable local scorers.

* * * *

In Game 1, Yap and Simon played a total of 59 minutes. In Game 2, they logged 43 and in Game 3, 67. The timesheet clearly shows the dividends when they play extended minutes. Curiously, rookie Justin Melton, who delivered a career-high 15 points in 26 minutes in Game 2, was scoreless in just five minutes in Game 3. It’s evident that Cone is managing minutes efficiently, particularly those of his starters. In Game 3, the Mixers’ starters badly outscored their Tropa counterparts, 67-44.

Game 3 was the closest encounter so far with 10 ties and 10 lead changes. In Game 1, there were seven ties and eight lead changes and in Game 2, two ties and seven lead changes. Game 3 went down to the wire. In the fourth period alone, the teams battled to four deadlocks, the last at 69-all with 2:45 to go. The last lead switch came when Yap buried a deep two to make it 76-75, time down to 28 ticks.

The Tropa had its chances to pull it off. After Yap connected, Ranidel de Ocampo missed but Ryan Reyes cleared the offensive rebound. With 6.9 seconds remaining, the Texters lost possession on a bad pass to Jayson Castro. Still, they weren’t out of it. Joe De Vance shot 1-of-2 from the line and Talk ‘N’ Text got back possession with 4.8 seconds left, more than enough time to execute a game-winning play. Castro attempted a triple at the buzzer under duress and missed. That last miss told the story of the game – San Mig’s defense made it happen.

The opposing imports didn’t do badly in Game 3. Talk ‘N’ Text’s Richard Howell compiled 10 points, 22 rebounds, five assists and three steals in 46 minutes while the Mixers’ James Mays had 20 points, 14 boards, four dimes and two swipes in 42. As was the case in Games 1 and 2, the locals settled the outcome. In Game 3, Black sorely missed the scoring of Jimmy Alapag and Larry Fonacier who were a combined 0-of-9 from the floor. Alapag is due for a breakout. He’s been under the gun since the start, mismatched against a taller Simon, and has contributed only seven points in three games. Like Alapag, Fonacier has yet to score in double figures in the series.

* * * *

Castro has been Talk ‘N’ Text most lethal weapon, scoring 17 in Game 1, 30 in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3. It’s no wonder that in Game 3, Cone started with Marc Pingris defending Castro then Mark Barroca took over and later, De Vance and even Mays. Off a switch, Cone makes sure that Castro is covered by a gritty defender because that’s how important he is to Talk ‘N’ Text’s offense.

Tonight, Cone goes for a league-record 17th championship as San Mig attempts to clinch its third straight title. It’s Cone’s 66th conference in his 25th season. He began his PBA coaching career in 1989, the year Black won a Grand Slam for San Miguel Beer. Cone captured his Grand Slam with Alaska in 1996. Entering the Finals, Cone’s record showed 770 career wins compared to Black’s 549 in 53 conferences over 19 seasons.

 Cone is armed to the teeth with 14 players combining for 57 total championships to Talk ‘N’ Text’s 43. Black, however, is far from finished. It’s only the second time that the Grand Slam coaches are facing off in a PBA Finals – Cone prevailed in their first duel for the 1995 Governors Cup in seven games. Black is out for payback. To win the title, the Texters must beat the Mixers two in a row and that means the first order is to win tonight and force a winner-take-all Game 5 on Sunday. It’s definitely doable for the Tropa. Game 3 could’ve easily gone the other way. Game 4 will be just as hotly contested tonight.