source: GMA NewsFor those who care to listen, Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes is now telling that his Tropang Texters should be regarded as the clear underdogs in their PBA Governors Cup Finals opposite the Petron Blaze Boosters.
And all it took was Petron's stunning 89-88 upset win in the opener of the best-of-seven title series Sunday.
"Maybe now people will believe me when I say Petron was not the team we wanted to play in the Finals and that we are the overwhelming favorites," Reyes said. "They match up well against us and they have figured us out."
And to further prove his point, Reyes reminded everybody that his Grand Slam-seeking team has yet to beat the Boosters in their three head-to-head match-up this conference, including their Game 1 loss.
"Ordinarily, it would be okay to be down 1-0," he said. "But this one (Finals) appears psychologically that we can't beat Petron."
Reyes doesn't want that kind of mindset going into Game 2 of the title series Wednesday in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, where another loss to an undermanned Petron squad would put the franchise, vying to become the first team in 15 years to complete a sweep of the three-conference season, down 0-2.
"Like I said, this series is going to be 10 times tougher than the past two, and we’re experiencing it right now," Reyes added.
Incidentally, the Tropang Texters hadn't trailed in their two previous Finals appearances—the Philippine Cup and Commissioner's Cup.
Petron coach Ato Agustin definitely likes where his team is right now, especially for one which had to endure the absence of injured key players like Jay Washington, Joseph Yeo, Lordy Tugade and rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
"They are pressured to win. There is no pressure on our side. We just want to play in the series," said the Petron mentor.
The Boosters did play minus pressure in Game 1, rallying back from a nine-point deficit in the final four minutes to steal the victory away from an obviously shocked Tropang Texters side.
Two-time league MVP Danny Ildefonso came through in the clutch for Petron, scoring seven points in the pivotal fourth, including the team's last four which he capped by nailing the game-winning basket at the buzzer.
"Pare-pareho lang naman ang ginagawa ng Talk 'N Text, wala namang kakaiba," said Agustin, whose Boosters trailed 36-52 at one time in the second quarter. "Ang importante lang naman sa amin is to play good defense and contain their running game."
The Blaze Boosters did play good defense especially against Talk 'N Text import Scottie Reynolds as they limited his production to just four points on a paltry 1-of-10 shooting from the field. - JVP, GMA News
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