Agustin: TNT paid dearly for 'choosing' opponent

For Petron coach Ato Agustin, Talk ‘N Text paid dearly in “choosing" its opponent in the 2011 PBA Governors Cup final. “Maraming nagsasabi na kitang kita na namili sila ng kalaban dahil undermanned kami. I think nagkamali sila dahil maganda ang match-up namin sa kanila," said Agustin. In its final day of the semifinal round, the Tropang Texters played a lackluster effort in bowing to the Blaze Boosters, 98-83, in the first game of an August 5 doubleheader eliminating Ginebra from the finals picture. Petron advanced to the finals after the Gin Kings beat Rain or Shine in the second match to forge a rematch of this year’s Philippine Cup finals. “I believe that we can have a good match-up against Talk ‘N Text because of our guards who can play good defense against them," said Agustin. Agustin proved to be right as the Blaze Boosters slammed the Tropang Texters’ Grand Slam plans by taking the Governors’ Cup title last Sunday with an 85-73 victory in Game 7 despite injuries to Petron’s big men Jay Washington and Rookie of the Year Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Season Most Valuable Player Jimmy Alapag scored 13 points but Jason Castro, who exploded in Game 6, was limited to only two points after he injured his foot and never returned to the game. Import Anthony Grundy bounced back from a lackluster Game 6 scoring 26 points while Arwind Santos contributed 16 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and three swats en route to a Game 7 victory in front of 16,928 fans at the Big Dome. Among those who came to watch was Philippine basketball legend Robert Jaworski . Santos was named the PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player after the Game 7 conquest. Petron bounced back from its first conference loss to Talk ‘N Text in the PBA Philippine Cup title after the then-San Miguel Beermen lost to the Tropang Texters in Game 6. “Napakagandang revenge ito lalo na’t malapit na silang maka-Grand Slam," Agustin said. On the back of his mind, Agustin said that he was also out to defend San Miguel Beer’s 1989 Grand Slam title whose members included current Petron team manager Hector Calma, Samboy Lim and Ramon Fernandez and coached by Norman Black, who incidentally is now the Talk ‘N Text assistant coach. “Na-challenge din ako na mai-defend ko ‘yung Grand Slam namin. May nakakausap rin ako na ibang mga dati kong kakampi na ayaw din namin na may maka-Grand Slam," Agustin said. Agustin took shots at Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes as he clarified a statement allegedly made by Reyes that he was the one who discovered him (Ato) as a player. Agustin and Reyes already had an earlier incident in Game 3 where Agustin allegedly challenged Reyes to a fistfight after Game 3. “Si Coach Turo (Valenzona) at si Coach Boy Afable ang kumuha sa akin na maglaro sa Manila kaya wala akong utang na loob sa kanya. Sorry sa mga nasabi ko pero ito lang ang opportunity ko na masabi ang side ko," said Agustin, who added another spice at the close of a colorful championship series that had all the drama. -- OMG, GMA News