Talk ‘N Text and Purefoods are two of the best offensive teams in the league, an indication that their semifinals series might be full of explosives.
They rank among the top three in true shooting percentage (TS%), effective field goal percentage (eFG%), field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and assists. The Tropang Texters are no. 2 in the league in offensive rating, while the Star Hotshots are not far behind at no. 4. However, unlike Rain or Shine and their semifinals counterpart, the Tropang Texters’ defense is only average (no. 7 in the league; Purefoods is no. 1) which makes pundits think if they can put up a decent fight from a defensive standpoint against the wards of Tim Cone.
Talk ‘N Text beats its opponents by simply outscoring them. They get to a quick start and keep pushing on the offensive end, and when they margin is already a mile, they just trade baskets afterwards. Question is: will they be able to win by getting crucial stops on the defensive end as well? Purefoods was merciless during its Game 1 encounter against the Alaska Aces, to serve notice to the entire league. Talk ‘N Text did the same a day after, trouncing Barako Bull by 30 freaking points!
However, against the Star Hotshots, the Tropang Texters can’t afford to just trade shots. They are not going up against a mediocre team. They are battling a team that gets the job done on both ends of the floor.
Last season, Talk ‘N Text and Purefoods (then San Mig Coffee) met in the playoffs of all conferences and the latter always got the better of the three series. Will the story change this time around?
Key match-ups
Ivan Johnson (33.9 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.7 SPG, 40.9% 3 PT FGs, 61.23 TS%
vs.
Denzel Bowles (31.3 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 4 APG, 2.9 SPG, 49.7% FGs, 55.26 TS%)
Bowles and Johnson have both been phenomenal and one of them may end up with the Best Import plum this conference. Johnson is 19-for-31 from three-point distance in his last three games that provided more space for the Tropang Texters.
Bowles has been impressive as well, hitting shots from any spot on the floor. The biggest difference so far between the two stalwarts is how they share the ball. Bowles’ assist rate is 18.3 percent and he scores/creates over a third of the Star Hotshots’ output. Johnson is only 10 percent in that category.
Jayson Castro (17.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5 APG, 47% 3 PT FGs, 2.75 triples per game)
vs.
Mark Barroca (11.9 PPG, 4.5, RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)
The series also features two of the best backcourt generals we have in the country today. Castro is still in the Best Player of the Conference conversation with his impressive numbers while Barroca is not far behind.
X-Factors
Talk ‘N Text: Matt Ganuelas-Rosser
The Tropang Texters’ biggest weapon that they did not have last season is Ganuelas-Rosser. The rookie has the size and length to defend Purefoods’ plethora of wing guys like PJ Simon, James Yap, Allein Maliksi, and Alex Mallari. On offense, he is very aggressive, averaging 0.570 free throw attempts per field goal attempts ratio (FTA/FGA) which isn’t a bad percentage (James Harden is 0.557 right now in the NBA, slightly lower because he takes a lot of jumpers. Ganuelas-Rosser is not a jump-shooter).
Purefoods: Joe Devance
Purefoods’ veteran forward averaged 13 PPG, 6 RPG, and 5 APG in the quarterfinals series against Alaska, providing support whether on offense or playmaking. Since he is usually the “point guard” in Cone’s huge lineups, Devance putting up numbers like these will be a problem for TNT.
Pick:
Purefoods in 5. This series will be full of fireworks. The Tropang Texters will push the defending conference champions to the limit but the Star Hotshots may just get it done with defense in the end.
