Manny Pangilinan and his Talk N Text Tropang Texters really would have wanted to close out its best-of-seven PBA Commissioner’out last Friday. The problem with winning last night was that Manny Pacquiao was fighting earlier in the day, which meant that news of Talk N Text’s second straight title would be buried under the headlines of the pound-for-pound king’s victory.

But Jong Uichico and his gallant Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings would have none of it. If they weren’t winning the championship, they sure as hell wouldn’t roll over even against the mighty Tropang Texters. Talk N Text knew throughout the series that they were in a fight, just as I predicted in my preview of the series, Ginebra put out an effort worthy of their fans’ support. Each game in this series was played with tons of pride from both sides, and the series made the PBA richer just by virtue of how well both teams competed.

When I spoke to Coach Chot last January shortly after the team won the Philippine Cup, he said that he was surprised that the two rookie coaches he went up against in the playoffs – Ato Agustin of San Miguel and Jorge Gallent of B-MEG Derby Ace – didn’t go with more out-of-the-box tactics against him, instead choosing to go the conventional route.

That wasn’t an issue in this series, with Jong Uichico going into his full bag of tricks to try to rattle Talk N Text and its superior lineup. From playing rookies Rob Labagala and John Wilson extensively to dusting off bench guys like JC Intal and Eric Menk, who weren’t used much in the semifinals, Uichico kept throwing shit against the wall to see what stuck. And while some moves were more effective than others – I’m sure Ginebra fans had nightmares last night of Menk’s jump hooks clanging off the back rim and killing them at 120kph – it took Talk N Text out of its comfort zone enough to give the Gin Kings a fighting chance.

Meanwhile, Talk N Text sets its sights on a Grand Slam, the first since Alaska achieved the feat in 1996. Despite having to play with a handicap in the Governor’s Cup – as one of the top four teams, the Texters will be allowed to hire an import with a maximum height of 6’2” – not to mention possibly losing Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams to the Smart Gilas team that will compete in the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship, Talk N Text still has to be considered the favorites for the season-ending tournament. That team is just that damn good.