PBACC The Semifinals: Talk'n'Text vs Purefoods

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(Photo credits to the owner)

From a championship pedigree standpoint, you could very well conclude that this is THE PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals match-up disguised as a Best-of-Five Semifinals pairing between two of the winning-est teams in the last five-six years.

The Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters, coached by Jong Uichico versus the Purefoods Star Hotshots and coach Tim Cone.

Pilipinas basketball does not get any better than this: the core of the Gilas Pilipinas national team (from players to brain thrust) versus a team that is so good (as proven by their Grand Slam credentials), one could actually argue for them as a version of Gilas in an alternate universe. While the Texters enjoy proven depth with its veterans, the Hotshots' 2nd unit of mostly up-and-coming names are certified by the number of titles under their belts (which, from what we have seen thus far, they seem to keep wanting to add to).

Match-up wise, the Texters enjoy a slight advantage with Jayson Castro being stronger than Mark Barocca, Ryan Reyes and Larry Fonacier as two-way players over PJ Simon, rookie Matt Ganuelas Rosser looking like a dream over James Yap, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams and Jay Washington taking turns versus Marc Pingris and Joe DeVance and so on.

The only real advantage going the Hotshots' way is import Denzel Bowles who can literally play and dominate in the post as though he were 6"10 or something.

But then you take one look at the Texters' Ivan Johnson, a legitimate NBAer whose NBA2k14 ranking puts him 10 points above Barako Bull's Solomon Alabi and the Hotshots' old import Daniel Orton... and well, let's just say that Bowles' is still waiting for even a 10-day NBA contract to come his way.

The Hotshots' strength has been their two units-- the first five with their core of stars: Yap, Simon, Pingris, JdV, followed by the 2nd unit which features mostly guards in Justin Melton, Alex Mallari, Allein Maliksi since Ian Sangalang is still out due to injury.

Problem is, the Texters' core is just as deep with names like: Ryan Reyes, Kevin Alas, Williams, Washington, etc. all waiting their turn.

Not to mention that there are two legitimate PBA MVPs on the roster in Willie Miller (who can drop 20 points easily) AND Williams (who looks healthy and fit).

Oh, and that guy with a chip on his shoulder and an axe to grind versus Team SMC, some dude named Danny Seigle.

Coach Tim will need his guys to execute their gameplan to a "T" against a solid Texters' squad that has finally learned how to keep its composure and win games without now team manager Jimmy Alapag. Castro has basically made this conference his own, personal "coming out" party as the new "face" of the Texters.

Pingris vs Castro would be nice, but then who guards Ranidel de Ocampo down low (Sangalang is hurt, Yousef Taha is also out with an injury it seems).

Expect an Ivan Johnson three-point berserker barrage in this series. That dude is a killer.

Fearless forecast: Texters