Can Petron close out champs?

This afternoon, the PBA returns to its traditional double-header format after a highly successful "experimental" consecutive semifinal game days. It also marks the Petron Blaze Boosters, now up 3-1, first attempt in securing a Philippine Cup Finals spot over the defending champions the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

Petron will look to Cabagnot and Santos to close it out

But despite the two-game deficit, if there's one thing we've learned in the game of basketball is this: "never underestimate the heart of a champion"-- as wisely spoken by NBA coach Rudy Tomjanovich when his Houston Rockets were being pushed to the brink of playoffs elimination in their team's mid 90s title run (they won back to back of course).

Right now, things don't look pretty good for the Texters. They played their best defense of the series in Game 4-- locking down Arwind Santos to a measly 7 points and 2, yes TWO, rebounds (which is almost unheard of at this point even when he was a skinny phenom at FEU) and still failed to win. And if that's not enough (and I know we've been beating on this for a while now), Ryan Reyes suffered yet another injury- this time to his wrist which pretty much adds to TNT coach Chot Reyes' rotation woes.

Then there's the Boosters main men of Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos. Pound for pound, the best PG in the PBA and the best all around wing amongst all Filipino (and even Fil-foreign) basketball players in general. That's not hype, that's the God honest truth.

If the NBA celebrates (while media and fans hate) on LeBron James for being a God-like athlete who puts up offensive numbers, the Philippines has the exact opposite- guy who puts up defensive numbers, plays lockdown defense and doesn't fade in the clutch because he makes a bigger impact on D while letting others get their shine all while enjoying little to no fanfare because of his non-TV friendly looks (kung nagpalit ng mukha si Arwind Santos at ABL San Miguel Beerman Chris Banchero, pustahan tayo mas sikat pa siya kay Noynoy).

And if having two of the top five players in the league isn't enough, the Boolsters also boast of the ever reliable Denok Miranda, Danny Ildefonso, Chris Lutz and Joseph Yeo. While others argue that the Boosters only have 2 stars, I say they should look again. Miranda was a better PG than L.A. Tenorio in the UAAP and was the only guy to stay with Mike Cortez- only they weren't winning as much. Ildefonso is a 2 time MVP whose excellent conditioning (check out the guns on that bad mofo) has made him the team's pillar of strength (as it should). Lutz is a glue guy who does a little of everything great minus the flash while Joseph Yeo, other than Ginebra's Mark Caguioa and TNT's Jayson Castro, is the fiercest slasher in the PBA when given minutes on the floor.

Hell, even Rob Reyes is slowly starting to regain his old, "Baby Menk" form. He doesn't have as many moves in the pivot, but the guy was flat out beastly in the PBL with Toyota Otis Letran (how quickly people forget no thanks to a series of injuries and playing for bad teams).

Perhaps the inevitable early exit will allow the TNT crew to finally get some much needed break- they've been playing to the hilt for almost four straight conferences now. That, plus even coach Chot has admitted that they're simply being outplayed (and outcoached) by the better team.