Golden Opportunity for Barako Bull

Kelangan gumawa si Miller para magtrabaho
sa depensa si Castro, Alapag at Reyes

It’s not everyday that a rag tag team of discards and almost forgotten veterans are able to prove themselves against the league’s elite. That pretty much sums up the main storyline for the starpower heavy Best-of-Five semifinals match-up between the Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters and Barako Bull Energy.

On one end you have the defending champions, the mighty Texters who are looking to duplicate last season’s title romp behind an even healthier and more potent roster. Powered by rejuvenated, reigning Most Valuable Player Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams, KKS Doctor Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier and Jarred Dillinger plus rebound-demon of an import Donnel Harvey, all signs point to another long playoff run by the Texters.


Standing on their path to greatness and immortality are the Energy led by Willie Miller, Ronald Tubid, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena, Don Allado, Wyne Arboleda and sudden TV caricature Mick Pennisi. Now, just a few games ago, this writer would’ve easily written the Energy off given their inconsistent showing this whole conference. There are games that they play like it’s the earlier part of the decade yes, but those are overshadowed by lackluster outings wherein their collective ages reveal itself to the masses.

That is, until they got their hands on two time Best Import Gabe Freeman.

Like a shot of Red Bull (really, what is a Barako Bull Energy?) straight into the blood system, Freeman pretty much turned the franchise’ chances around with his boundless energy, hustle and passion for the game. All of a sudden, Tubid found himself open for his pet three balls. Pennisi and Pena were inspired again to hustle in the paint and battle for rebounds. Arboleda was back to his “Snatcher” ways and hacking at cutting guards. All that’s left now really is for Miller to take command of the basketball and we’re looking at a solid, playoff worthy team.

Match-up wise, you’ll have to give the obvious edge to the Texters. From a personnel standpoint, the Energy just don’t stand a chance against their younger, fresher counterparts. Alapag and Castro are going to force Miller to run around the court. Reyes and Fonacier will make things harder for Tubid to score, Williams is healthy enough to contest Freeman while the KKS Doctor is by far the best post player in the league today that not even the tried and tested pair of Pena and Pennisi could stop him in a 48 minute game.

Plus, they’re import, Harvey, isn’t all that bad as well.

For the Energy to win, they need to go to their strengths and play rugged and physical. This was the same formula used by the Petron Blaze Boosters last Governor’s Cup when they pretty much banged the tired Texters all over SMART Araneta.

A concern of course will be their bigs who could get into foul trouble early given the Texters’ guards’ slashing ways. Best case scenario is for the Energy to slow things down when there’s no open lane for Freeman to drive into, and make shots.

For the Texters, we’ve seen this before. They’re bound to attack the rim relentlessly before giving Alapag, Fonacier and even De Ocampo free rein to shoot from deep.

The PBA fan in me is hoping that the Energy makes it into the Finals, just to prove to everyone that they still have it and that there’s room in the PBA for small franchises. But the bettor in me says the Texters will advance in four games.