All or nothing Game 7s

It's that time of the basketball calendar again where one can throw away the stats and standings-- only this time, fans all around are being treated to not one but two classic series. One featuring the defending champions Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters versus the fancied Petron Blaze Boosters and the other, the wild, wild West shootout between the upstart Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and trail blazing Powerade Tigers.

Here are some note worthy observations made from last game and pretty much the whole series in general:

TNT vs PB

- Alex Cabagnot drives the Boosters' offense, but that's created only if and when Arwind Santos controls the boards
- Danny Ildefonso's game may no longer have the quick baseline spins or dunks, but his J and post up moves are still Top 5

To be THE man, you have to beat the MAN.

- Ranidel de Ocampo is the key to the whole series for TNT. When he's on and interested, he's too quick for Ildefonso and Rob Reyes, bigger than Santos and experienced for Marc Agustin. He showed it with his 23 points in game 6
- Jimmy Alapag will always show up for big games. Count on it.
- TNT won Game 6 behind injuries to key personnel. With Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams out and Jayson Castro limping (yet again), coach Chot Reyes was forced to go with a traditional line-up instead of his favored three guard formation. Larry Fonacier and Jarred Dillinger didn't do so bad against PBB. Fonacier has the size and IQ to play Denok Miranda and Joseph Yeo, while Dillinger has the pedigree and "gigil" to stay with Chris Lutz
- Ali Peek is a muthafukkin G who was shot in the back just weeks ago and is now outmuscling the opposition like nothing happened

Shoot-out. RoS needs top wise up and slow it down

ROS vs Powerade

- Jeffrei Chan is the barometer of RoS, if he scores in the 20s mark, they usually win
- Paul Lee cannot be stopped by the Tigers' guards and is wreaking havoc by creating scoring opportunities for himself or others
- JVee Casio is one dimensional, clutch, but one dimensional much like Gary David (so no Bataan Bomber, coach Bo Perasol wasn't right in picking another shooter to play with you. Just imagine the number of kick-outs and freebies you'd get playing alongside Paul Lee. Ask Chan, Beau Belga, JayR Quinahan and so on)
- Doug Kramer is a top tier big man in the PBA and may possibly be a grade better than standard bearer Alaska's Sonny Thoss
- RoS could've ended this series long ago had their young guys been reminded to SLOW DOWN and HOLD ON TO THE BASKETBALL which they did effectively in Game 6. Can't blame them, they're young and easily duped by trading baskets. In streetball terms, this is what even grade school players call "HAWAK!" and/ or "IKOT!"
- The Tigers play zero defense and rely on the fact that they have the better shooters (collectively christened by yours truly as the "Bataan Bomber and the Hitmen") who are quick to leak out and shoot, shoot and shoot
- Yeng Guiao couldn't possibly be outcoached by Bo Perasol in a seven game series now can he?