The Grand Slam, which for the past 15 years has not been accomplished, will have to wait.
For the meantime, redemption is served.
Petron, playing in a championship series without four key men and against the very same franchise it failed to beat in the season’s first Finals showdown even with a healthy, talent-loaded roster, stunned Talk ‘N Text Sunday night, 85-73, to register one of the biggest upsets in PBA history and capture the Governors’ Cup title in seven games at the Araneta Coliseum.
The outcome was simply unbelievable for a ball club that charged into the series without Jay Washington, Rookie of the Year Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Lordy Tugade, Joseph Yeo due to injuries. But the men who were left behind led by Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and Denok Miranda rose to the challenge of giving the Tropang Texters a fight they will never ever forget in winning the series, four games to three.
It was the 19th championship for the Boosters, who began the season by losing to the Texters in the Philippine Cup Finals in six games despite still having Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena and Paul Artadi.
They were given nary a chance to compete with the Texters this time, and the reason was crystal clear: they were shallow, the enemy was deep and motivated to the bone of completing a Grand Slam only three franchises have done in the past – Crispa in 1976 and in 1983, San Miguel Beer in 1989 and Alaska in 1996.
Now, Talk ‘N Text has been reduced to a mere footnote of having blundered its chances of being placed alongside the greatest teams in league history, dropping the game that mattered the most in a series it was widely tipped to win.
“Of all the championships that I’ve won, this is the sweetest,” said Boosters’ coach Agustin, who won his first PBA championship after four previous titles with San Sebastian College in the NCAA and one in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
The triumph was also the first to come for Santos, the adjudged Finals’ MVP, after three fruitless attempts, and Cabagnot.
In his final game of the season, Santos collected 16 points and the same number of rebounds while Cabagnot had 12 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The two players saw action for 45 minutes.
“I’ve won championships as an amateur, but I’ve never before won a PBA title until now,” Santos said. “And many felt that I could be the jinx. Thankfully, I’m not.” In the biggest game of the biggest stage, it was clear that Petron wanted it more. The Boosters held the Texters to their lowest output in six conferences, something that’s the result of the kind of defense Petron executed against an offense-minded opponent who crumbled after playing for 70-plus games in 10 months.
Talk ‘N Text just shot 32.9 percent from the field on 26-of-79 shooting, and Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier were the ones who failed to deliver. Castro and Fonacier went 0-of-17, combined.
Anthony Grundy, held to only five points in Game 6, retaliated big time with 26 points, while Denok Miranda added 16 points and Danny Ildefonso contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.
“I was focused for the game. I was anxious, I had so much energy,” Grundy said. “Whatever we did, it worked. This is my first championship overseas so its special for me as well. This team has an uncanny ability to come back. I didn’t want to let them down because they didn’t let me down. This is a great feeling.” Maurice Baker, who was re-hired to replace Scottie Reynolds for Game Six, led the Texters with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Ranidel de Ocampo added 15 – all in the first half.
Looking back, Agustin felt an enormous amount of relief and vindication, especially when thoughts of Talk ‘N Text ‘picking’ Petron as its opponent for the championships had crossed his mind.
“Nung pinili nila (Texters) kami, nagkamali sila,” said Agustin at center court during the post-game interview.
Agustin, of course, was referring to the final semifinal round match between Talk ‘N Text and Petron. The Texters already were assured of the Finals, but failed to beat the Boosters. Had the Texters won, Ginebra would be Talk ‘N Text’s Finals’ opponent.
While Petron did lead by as many as 14 points, Talk ‘N Text gave the Boosters a real scare.
The Texters, after trailing 27-13 in the first quarter, rallied to take the lead at 42-41 on a completed three-point play by Kelly Williams with 9:22 left in the third period.
But as Agustin had always said, Petron’s focus didn’t drift far.
The Boosters retaliated and took a 64-53 lead entering the final period.
The first half was the type of game the Boosters loved, holding the Texters to only 34 points to seize a six-point lead at the break.
Talk ‘N Text also struggled in its field-goal shooting in the first half, just converting 13 of its 42 attempts for a 31 percent clip, and only came through with four points on fastbreaks.
But what came as a surprise for the Texters was that only four players scored in the first two quarters. De Ocampo had 15, Baker 10 while Alapag and Williams combined for nine points as Talk ‘N Text got nothing from Game Six hero Castro and Fonacier.
Miranda had 11 first-half points for Petron, which shot considerably better at 41.7 percent from the field and collected 12 points on turnover and second-chance points – departments Talk ‘N Text failed to produce a single point from.
The league’s next big event now comes on Aug. 28 when the PBA Draft is held at the Robinson’s Place in Manila. The 37th season of the PBA kicks off on Oct. 2.