Outgunned and outnumbered

Who're you calling old? Alapag 34, David 3

The Powerade Tigers entered the PBA Philippine Cup Best-of-Seven Finals behind a never-say-die, run and gun philosophy that quickly captured the hearts of many. Slaying one dragon after another, it seemed as though the Cinderella-story would end with nothing less than a “happily ever after” for the Tigers, which in this case is a championship.

Two games in and their “kontrabidas” or the mighty “evil witch” (in the Tigers’ point of view of course), known in these circles as the Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters, have brought the Tigers right back down to earth—and how.

In the first game, the Tigers lost but had the luxury of using star rookie guard JVee Casio’s absence as an excuse. In the second, they were simply outplayed in several instances and out-hustled in key stretches that could’ve tilted the game in their favor (and quite possibly, tied the series).

Let’s get one thing straight, we are going to be treated to a shootout. Not a grind-it-out chess match akin’ to the 90s PBA. The scores will be high and close—but only because this style of play concentrates more on the offensive rather than the defensive end.

Quickening the pace means surrendering more shot attempts for both parties, a big reason why this series looks much closer at first glance than how it really is when you break everything down.

That, plus as long as the Tigers’ have the Bataan Bomber, JVee Casio and Marcio Lassiter free to put up 10 three point attempts EACH per game, KKS says they have as good a puncher’s chance as any to steal a game or two.

Still, yesterday’s game was another display of supremacy by the Tropang Texters—effortlessly grabbing a double digit lead in the first quarter with arguably their two best players, Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo, watching from the sidelines.

Jimmy Alapag wanted to showcase how he invented the “three point shooting point guard with no conscience prototype” over the returning Casio early. Japeth Aguilar was jumping around the place with his hands up and perhaps the biggest key to the series to date, Jarred Dillinger was being a problem for Marcio Lassiter.

Dillinger, at 6”4 and 225 lbs, was creating so many match-up problems for the 6”2, 187 lbs. Lassiter that the much-heralded rookie (currently leading the ROY stats race) wasn’t his usual aggressive self on the offensive end. Defensively, Lassiter tried to stay with Castro in a cross-match, but it was obvious by the 4th quarter that he was winded from having to stay in front of the Blur and having to deal with the Daredevil.

Back to Dillinger, who was mixing it up with jumpers and slashes that the Tigers’ just didn’t have anyone to check him with. Lassiter’s to small, Sean Anthony would be too slow. The only guy who could really challenge Dillinger and cancel him out, would be Will Antonio. In 2003. When he was lighter and quicker on his feet. Not 2011.

Then came Castro, followed by Ranidel de Ocampo.

THE DOCTOR IS IN.

Dr. de Ocampo methodically dissected whatever defense the Tigers put up, and had an easy time grabbing rebounds over his opponent’s hapless frontline who didn’t put up much of an effort on that end of the floor. There’s just no one on the Tigers’ roster who can match-up with RDO. Hell, there’s no one in the league today that can match-up with RDO when he’s on his A game (closest would be Kelly Williams, who has the height, muscle and athleticism, but they’re teammates so…).

The commentators, namely Jason Webb, nailed it when he said that both teams like to “run and gun”—it’s just that, the other squad has the better tools for the job and does it behind a solid 8 to 9 man rotation. The other? Just 3 guys and a couple of solid role players.

Quinito Henson, being the detached commentator that he usually is, was suggesting, nay, practically begging the Tigers’ coaching staff to play at a slower pace (as though they could hear him). Uhm, with all due respect sir, if you ask the Tigers to slow down, you’ll pretty much force Gary David to play in tighter floorspace (which he doesn’t excel in). The Tigers would also need to have a reliable post player to make that work—and despite all his improvements, Doug Kramer isn’t exactly Rabeh Al Husaini on the block.

Oh, and that gameplay would completely undress JVee Casio as a point guard who can’t create shots (yes, KKS is debunking Ryan Gregorio’s statements that Casio is a shot creator for his teammates—he’s a solid point guard who can handle the ball and makes correct passes to teammates ala NBAers Jarret Jack, Derek Fisher, Earl Watson, Jose Calderon. He’s not a shot creator like Ricky Rubio, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Luke Ridnour. Get it now?)

Slow or fast, the Texters are proving to be too much for the Tigers. Run and they’ll unleash Castro. Slow down and they’ll set up shop with Dr. de Ocampo and Mountain Peek. It’s not a case of “picking your poison” anymore, it’s simply, “here’s your poison, now go die.”

This is still a winnable series for the Tigers, if they can just play a little bit of defense and control the boards so they can break-out and do what they do best- run.

On a side note, that shouldn't have been a Flagrant One on de Ocampo versus Anthony. He was collaring the rebound and swinging like all grown men are supposed to do (something Chris Bosh should've done when Kevin Garnett was all over his grill in that one Toronto-Boston game years back). Anthony just got what was coming to him. No harm meant, no ill will or drama. Just the natural, brutality of the game.