MANILA, Philippines -- In a repeat of their gripping overtime duel in their previous faceoff, Talk n Text fought Alaska Milk in a gung-ho battle for 53 minutes and banked on big breaks at the finish to squeeze out a 121-117 win in the Petron Blaze-sponsored Saturday Special at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ryan Reyes, returning from a long layoff, was among those who delivered big shots for the Tropang Texters as they outlasted the Aces and in the process caught up with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at third place entering the homestretch of the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup elimination phase.
Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine press their bids for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals as they take on dangerous foes San Mig Coffee and Globalport Sunday also at the MOA Arena.
Ginebra mauled San Mig Coffee, 86-68, in the season inaugural at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 17, and the Kings are fancied to repeat over the Mixers with a confidence and momentum built on their 9-1 win-loss showing through the 2013 stretch of the all-Filipino tourney.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, is out to avenge its 88-90 upset by Globalport in their previous tiff.
“Tough win, good win, a much needed win,†said Talk n Text coach Norman Black after once again surviving Alaska in an overtime thriller.
“It gives us momentum for our next game against Air21. We need to get as many wins to get momentum going into the playoffs. If we get ‘twice-to-beat’ so be it,†added Black whose troops tied Rain or Shine at third at 7-3.
Reyes, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jason Castro were among those who starred for the Texters as they overcame a five-point deficit in the last two minutes in regulation play and lived on in extra period to repeat their 114-111 overtime win over Alaska last November.
The Aces suffered a third loss in their last four games and dropped to seventh place at 4-7.
Crucial buckets for the Texters included outside attempts by Castro and De Ocampo that went in on lucky bounces.
With Talk n Text ahead by just one, 116-115, with 25 ticks left in OT, De Ocampo made a trey that bounced high off the front rim before finding its mark to the delight of the TnT crowd.
Alaska narrowed the gap at 117-119 on a second follow-up shot by Sonny Thoss, then Jimmy Alapag sealed their win with two charities – his 26th and 27th straight in the conference and 35th and 36th dating back to last season.
Earlier, Castro made a basket that trickled in, out and in, followed by a free throw by Larry Fonacier as Talk n Text moved up by two, 108-106, with 11.6 seconds left in regulation play.
Thoss, however, converted a left-handed reverse on a great feed by Gabby Espinas in the dying seconds as Alaska forged the extension period at 108-all.
Then the Aces jumped ahead, 113-110, in OT but the Texters won’t run out of saviors.
Reyes, playing his first game in the season, scored on a put-back and later banged away a trey as the Tropang Texters regained the upperhand at 116-113.
Still, the Aces refused to give up but the Texters stayed intact to the finish thus pulling the crucial win.
“We had a lot of heroes tonight,†said Black, drawing double-digit outputs from Williams (18), Reyes (17), De Ocampo (16), Castro (16), Fonacier (14) and Sean Anthony (13).
Danny Seigle, Harvey Carey and Alapag shared quality minutes as the Texters negated Thoss’ career-best 30-point output.
The scores:
First Game
Talk n Text 121 – Williams 18, Reyes 17, De Ocampo 16, Castro 16, Fonacier 14, Anthony 13, Seigle 9, Carey 8, Alapag 5, Reyes J. 3, Baclao 2.
Alaska 117 – Thoss 30, Jazul 18, Espinas 18, Baguio 17, Casio 11, Abueva 9, Ramos 7, Exciminiano 3, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Hontiveros 0.
Quarters: 26-26; 48-40; 83-80; 108-108 (reg.); 121-117 (OT)