NOT only did Talk 'N Text end its six-year title drought, but the team also snapped the stranglehold of San Miguel teams' dominance in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Prior to winning the Philippine Cup on Friday night by closing out their best-of-seven finals series against the Magnolia Hotshots with a masterful 94-79 victory in Game 5, the Tropang Giga were staring at the list of champions in the league over the past 11 conferences.
No team outside of the SMC squads had won a tournament. In the past five Philippine Cup tournaments, San Miguel Beer dominated by winning four straight seasons before its reign was ended last year by Barangay Ginebra, which defeated TNT, then being handled by active consultant Mark Dickel, in five games. The Gin Kings won in five import-laden conferences while the Hotshots sneaked in and grabbed a title in the 2018 Governors' Cup.
Chot Reyes and the rejuvenated Tropang Giga were able to break that monopoly, and with the present composition of the team, which features a balance of young stars and veteran players, scorers and defenders and players who are willing to do the dirty job, this team presents a new era in the PBA.
The biggest acquisition is definitely Mikey Williams.
TNT had its share of great guards through the years, back at the time when Jimmy Alapag was quarterbacking for the team.
A long-time team captain of the squad, Alapag was a former Rookie of the Year, became an MVP and on top of that, became a key figure in TNT's six championship runs.
When Alapag retired, he passed the baton of leadership to Jayson Castro, another great point guard, who likewise became the best point guard in Asia while playing for Gilas Pilipinas.
As the new floor leader of the franchise, Castro was able to become a member of TNT's seven championship teams, the most among the players in the squad. Now 35, Castro is about to wind down his basketball career, and it's only fitting that TNT brought in his heir apparent in the rookie Williams.
Immediately, Williams let his game speak for himself.
He was a key figure in the squad all conference long but preserved the best for last.
His finals averages were nothing but spectacular: 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and six triples a game. It's not surprising he was the runaway winner for the Finals MVP and became the first rookie since Danny Seigle to accomplish the feat. The Tropang Giga also have key players who've made key contributions all conference long — the young stars led by Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and Poy Erram, all of them becoming a PBA champion for the first time.
Of course, aside from Castro, the other old reliable players also made huge contributions — Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams.
These players would certainly savor this moment as they won't be long enough with the squad. They're enjoying it while it lasts. This is a new era for the Tropang Giga and after six years of title drought, they were able to stamp their mark back on top and affirmed their status back as among the elite PBA squads.
TNT breaks stranglehold of SMC dominance in PBA - The Manila Times
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment