Petron turns table on Talk 'n' Text, only a win away from title

Are the Talk 'n' Text players finally breaking down mentally amid all the pressures of the "Grandslam or bust" brought forth by the local media?

In all honesty, there's nothing wrong should the Tropang Texters lose the Governor's Cup title to their now esteemed rivals, the Petron Blaze Boosters. Though it will definitely ruin their "grandslam" bid, it won't be enough to take away what they have accomplished this year-- winning and dominating both Philippine and Commissioner's Cup conferences.

What makes last night's 93-80 loss is that it wasn't even close or competitive considering Petron's depleted (yet it now seems to be more well-balanced) line-up.

Was it Jayson Castro's absence?

Or has Petron head coach Ato Agustin *gasp!* finally figured out how to stop the TNT juggernaut?

I say, a little of both.

Castro's absence shouldn't have been THAT much of a hindrance considering the guys left on the roster. What's obvious here is that newly minted MVP Jimmy Alapag has been struggling and partner Ryan Reyes is being taken out of the equation by several cross matches.

Agustin, in the last two wins, has decided to stick his MVP Arwind Santos on PBA MVP Alapag which is pretty much like how the Miami Heat negated NBA MVP Derrick Rose in the recent playoffs. Alapag, though he's no longer the high scorer of yesteryears, is still the guy who the entire TNT squad looks to follow on the court. Unfortunately, it's hard to find Alapag when you have a guy like Santos draped all over him like a wet towel.

Then there's Ryan Reyes, who is being guarded by then Santa Lucia backcourt partner Denok Miranda. Those two are arguably the best defenders on the PG spot and it is showing. Miranda's advantage, as with most Filipino guards, is his moxy and gulang that Fil-ams just don't have. What hurts TNT is, Reyes is expected to at least contribute on offense, while Miranda is not. Meaning, Miranda's break-out games are a byproduct of TNT not locking him up as opposed to Reyes who is watched by his Kuya Nok 24/7.

Another "change" has come in the way the games are being played. In an all out footrace and battle of athleticism, there's no denying that TNT will whoop Petron's ass from players 3 to 14 (1 and 2 being Santos and the injured Jay Washington). In last night's game, Ali Peek was being taken out of the whole game by a lot of pushing, shoving, hacking (Sunday Salvacion), jersey grabbing (Danny Ildefonso) and the like, same with Harvey Carey. Ranidel de Ocampo, arguably this series' best big man ON PAPER, would've made a big difference but is back to playing way outside and settling for spot-up jumpers (if you're a Smart Gilas fan, you'd be worried and begging Rajko Toroman to get another PBA PF as an import).

The tide has indeed changed and the name of the game is "old school, grind it out, Filipino basketball" that Petron's stalwarts of Santos, Miranda, Ildefonso and Salvacion know and love while TNT's Alapag, Fonacier, Peek and De Ocampo seem to be having problems with.

While I still see TNT pulling it off in seven games, we won't be hearing any "benta" rumors when this is all said and done. Not with the current MVP-SMC rivalry, which I believe is good for the league as a whole, looking into the future.