TALK ‘N Text is out to rebuild a dynasty in the Philippine Basketball Association. Coach Jong Uichico said that he hopes their 4-3 victory in the recently-concluded Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup over worthy contender Rain or Shine, would lead to more championships for the seven-time champion.
After escaping with a close 121-119 triumph via double overtime in Game 7, the Tropang Texters just sent a serious intention to dominate the league once more, a feat that they used to do from 2008 to 2013, when they won five crowns during the time of former coach Chot Reyes.
“It’s something new to me. To win a championship with Talk ‘N Text. Hopefully, we win more championships. This is a new chapter in my life. It’s nice, isang magandang kuwento na I can just run through my mind all the time. I’m happy to get back and win championships again,” said Uichico, who also secured his ninth title as a coach including six with San Miguel Beer and two with Ginebra.
With the victory, the first Finals Game 7 that went through double overtime, the 52-year-old Uichico, a former De La Salle Green Archer, is just the sixth head coach in the league to win championships with three different teams.
Team skipper Ranidel de Ocampo, the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), shared the same objective with Uichico, hoping for more crowns for the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned team, which joined the league in 1990.
“Parang nagsimula lang kami ulit. Pag nag-champion ka ulit, magiging habit na ‘yun na manalo ulit. Iba ‘yung meron kang championship. ‘Yung mga awards wala ‘yan.
Ang importante ‘yung championship. Kaya ka nag-babasketball para manalo, para mag-champion,” said the 6’6” De Ocampo, a former mainstay of Gilas Pilipinas.
The 34-year-old Tanza, Cavite-native De Ocampo already has six PBA titles to his name all with Talk ‘N Text starting in 2009. He averaged 24.3 in the finals series on 40 percent shooting from the three-point range and 53 percent from the field. He was 81 percent reliable in the free throw lane on top of 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 block shots in the seven-game series.
