PBA Finals: Talk N Text almost Blew a Sure Win in Regulation as They Take a Commanding 3-0 Lead

Too Hot to handle as Ranidel De Ocampo takes the lead role in Crunch Time

         The Tropang Texters survived JVee Casio’s miraculous three-pointer that sent the game into overtime for a heart-pounding 133-126 win in Game Three of the PBA Philippine Cup finals Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

       Talk ‘N Text needed five extra minutes to repulse Powerade’s mighty fight. The win gave Talk ‘N Text a 3-0 lead in the series and is now a win away from its fifth conference title in the league. “One word: hunger,” said Tropang Texters coach Chot Reyes, who is seeking his eighth PBA crown. “Prior the game I said the team that has hunger and who wants it more and I hope that we’re all starving it out.”

       No team in PBA history has been able to recover from a 0-3 deficit, with Alaska closest when it forced a Game Six against Gordon’s Gin in the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup.

      Larry Fonacier continued his consistent play in the finals with 25 points, while Ranidel de Ocampo added 21 points. But the hulking forward had a crucial miscue on the inbound pass at the end of regulation that allowed the Casio to hit the three-pointer that tied the game, 121-121, with a second left. The Tropang Texters scored the first six points of overtime, 127-121, while the Tigers couldn’t hit their shots anymore. Ryan Reyes had a solid all-around game for the defending champions with 19 points, seven rebounds and five steals and was the primary defender of Talk ‘N Text against Gary David.

       David still netted a game-high 36 points, but was scoreles in overtime when he shot 0-of-5 from the field. Marcio Lassiter contributed 25 points, Sean Anthony had 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Casio had 18 points and 11 assists. Doug Kramer chipped in 14 points and a career-high 23 rebounds. “We’re not thinking of that,” said Tigers coach Bo Perasol. “We‘re just thinking of getting one win. It does not matter if it ends 0-4 as long as we play the right way.” “Kinapos lang talaga. I couldn’t ask for more from my players.”(source: interaktv.ph)

The scores:

TALK N’ TEXT 133 – Fonacier 25, De Ocampo 21, Reyes 19, Peek 16, Williams 14, Castro 10, Alapag 10, Aguilar 6, Dillinger 6, Carey 4, Lao 2, Gamalinda 0.

POWERADE 126 – David 36, Lassiter 25, Anthony 25, Casio 18, Kramer 14, Cruz 3, Adducul 3, Lingganay 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0.

Quarters: 28-34, 63-60, 87-93, 121-121, 133-126