Grand Slam next for Talk ‘N Text

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — For most of the season, Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes had skirted the issue, doing his eloquent best to avoid confronting the matter head-on.

But not anymore.

With two championships on his belt this year, now ton-heavy with seven overall, a missing third jewel to complete a Triple Crown presents an almost burning desire for its possession.

Reyes admitted that after winning a second straight PBA championship Sunday night, the team’s next obvious mission is to win another one to complete a rare Grand Slam.

Only three teams have achieved the feat in the history of the PBA and Reyes wants to join the elite cast.

Reyes, though, hopes that his players will continue to have the hunger to achieve their next goal.

“Obviously, now that we’ve won the second, there’s one other jewel missing in the Triple Crown. Yes of course, we’re going to go for it,” Reyes said after the Tropang Texters claimed PBA Commissioner’s Cup by edging the

Barangay Ginebra Kings in overtime, 99-96, Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

With the win, the Texters took the series, 4-2, avoiding what could have been a deciding seventh where they could be the underdogs.

It was their second straight crown after snaring the Philippine Cup.

The Governor’s Cup is the next conference.

“Not because we are going for grand slam, but we want to win another one. I hope we stay humble enough and hungry enough to want another one,” added Reyes, who won his seventh title – third with TNT.

Overall, it was the franchise’s fifth championship, counting the titles the team won during the 1998 Centennial Cup, the 2003 All-Filipino Cup, and Philippine Cup 2008-09 and 2010-11.

Talk ‘N Text got solid games from guards Jimmy Alapag and Jason Castro, as well as balanced contributions from forwards Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams, center Ali Peek and import Paul Harris.

Alapag dropped 24 points, highlighted by a huge three-pointer that gave TNT the pivotal 94-93 lead with 2:17 left in OT. He added five rebounds and six assists.

After Castro and Ginebra’s rookie John Wilson traded triples, the 5-foot-9 Alapag converted a pair of pressure-packed free throws to put the Texters ahead by three points, 99-96, with 15.2 seconds left in the extra period.

It was also Alapag, the 2003 Rookie of the year who is now on his ninth season in the pro league, who tied the game at 88-all with a layup with 19.9 seconds to play in regulation, which eventually forced overtime.

Castro, on the other hand, had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, while De Ocampo finished with 18 markers. Harris and Williams had double-double performances with 18 points and 10 rebounds and 10-12, respectively. Peek added 10 points off the bench.

Alapag and Castro were later named co-Finals Most Valuable Players again after winning the same award together in the Philippine Cup Finals last conference when they beat San Miguel Beer also in six games.

“It’s so rare to have a coaching staff, and 15, 16 guys who every day are committed to putting the time, effort, the sacrifices and genuinely believing in the success of the team,” Alapag said. “Jason and I accepted that MVP award as our team MVP.”

source: mb.com.ph