MANILA, Philippines – Jimmy Alapag came out as the reigning MVP that he is, and defending champion Talk n Text survived a second do-or-die game, thwarting Petron Blaze, 111-108, to force a sudden death in their PBA Philippine Cup Final Four showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Alapag sizzled with a near triple-double game with 29 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and himself delivered the game-clinching charities as the Tropang Texters forged the 3-3 tie in the best-of-seven series.
“We’re the defending champs until somebody take it away from us. But no matter what happens, we’ll really keep on fighting,” said Alapag.
“I wish we could celebrate but all we did was tied the series. I hope we saved out best for Wednesday,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.
Ranidel de Ocampo and Larry Fonacier also dished out big games, helping TnT stay in the hunt for back-to-back all-Filipino crowns.
De Ocampo and Fonacier banged in three triples each and finished with a total combined output of 38 points, ably filling the holes left by injuries to Kelly Williams and Ryan Gregorio.
Petron coach Ato Agustin rued they lacked the needed defensive effort.
“This is the first time in the series that we let them score over 100 points. We engaged them in an offensive game and that’s our biggest fault. We can’t beat them in that game,” said Agustin.
The Boosters fought the Texters through 12 deadlocks and 14 lead changes before faltering at the finish, thus, allowing the reigning champs to stay breathing.
Talk n Text can now become only the third team in league history to overcome a 1-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods did the feat in 1991 and 2006, respectively.
Alex Cabagnot missed three field-goal attempts and committed one error in a crucial stretch at endgame.
Like his coach, Cabagnot, however, said poor defense did them in.
“Shooting is not our problem. It’s defense,” said Cabagnot.
“Coach Ato told me to keep on shooting, and I think I really had to. (Had we got) one or two defensive stops, we could have won the game,” Cabagnot added.
Talk n Text didn’t lack the effort on both ends.
Rich Alvarez came through with two defensive gems in the final minute that helped TnT through.
It was another close game that saw no team enjoy a double-digit spread.
The tight series had neither team won by more than four.
The scores:
TALK N' TEXT 111 - Alapag 29, De Ocampo 23, Fonacier 15, Peek 12, Castro 11, Gamalinda 5, Aguilar 5, Dillinger 5, Carey 4, Williams 2, Alvarez 0.
PETRON 108 - Santos 20, Cabagnot 18, Lutz 16, Ildefonso 16, Miranda 14, Tugade 10, Yeo 8, Reyes 6.
Quarters: 25-23, 47-44, 79-74, 111-108