Mendoza: Whatever is the outcome, Tigers thrill

Saturday, January 28, 2012

ONE will try to win the war, the other to survive another battle.

That’s the scenario in another PBA Philippine Cup Finals offering on Sunday.

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Will Talk ‘N Text succeed?

As I said, Talk ‘N Text is the runaway favorite against Powerade in the best-of-seven series mainly because TNT has a deeper bench than Powerade.

This is not to mention the fact that TNT is riddled with championship-caliber players, led by Jimmy Alapag, Ali Peek, Jayson Castro, Ryan Castro, Kelly Williams and, yes, Larry Fonacier.

Alapag alone is the reigning MVP and he is more than actually proving he deserves to wear the crown.

He is the smallest Texter but the biggest in power in TNT’s mission to end everything in Sunday’s Game 5.

Alapag has starred three times already during the three times that TNT defeated Powerade for a commanding 3-0 bubble, the “Mighty Mouse” drilling in booming triples when TNT needed them most.

So fiery and fearsome are TNT’s front-liners that they can shoot baskets without much trouble almost anytime they please.

Castro has been a blistering blur at offensive thrusts all this time, Reyes both a pillar in defense and offense, and Peek, despite a bullet still embedded near his neck, is TNT’s immovable rock at the paint for rebounds and authoritative put-back stabs.

And Fonacier?

Well, this Blue Eagle I had christened “Lucky Larry” since his Ateneo days is in his sixth straight PBA Finals.

Lucky Larry fired a team-high 20 points in Game 4 but TNT fell short, dropping a 100-97 decision to Powerade when Sean “The Phantom of The Opera” Anthony drilled a jumper to break a 97-97 tie with seconds to go in the game.

Gary David, the conference best player, iced Powerade’s win with a charity to cap another blazing night that netted him 35 points.

Will the 3-1 edge augur well for TNT and will they proceed to wrap it up in the Sunday Suspense Theater?

Or will Powerade win again?

Whatever, the series is, will always be, a high-water mark in terms of PBA thrill and excitement.

To begin with, at No. 8, Powerade wasn’t supposed to reach this far.

Top that.

(alsol47@yahoo.com)