Game tomorrow: (Araneta Coliseum)

6:30 p.m. -- Best Player of the Conference Awards
6:45 p.m. -- Powerade vs. Talk ‘N Text


IT’S been 27 years since a franchise won back-to-back Philippine Cups.

The long wait will soon be over.

Talk ‘N Text survived Powerade’s and Gary David’s toughest stance yet, banking on experience once again to outlast the Tigers in overtime, 133-126, last night and move to within one win away from an historic accomplishment in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ranidel de Ocampo recovered from an inbounds passing error in the last three seconds of regulation with five extra period points, and the Tropang Texters took an inexorable 3-0 series lead and stood on the threshold of becoming the first franchise to repeat as all-Filipino champions since Great Taste in 1985.

“This was the biggest step in our objective,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “The important thing in this game was we stopped them when it counted.”

No team in the history of the league has ever overhauled a 3-0 deficit, and no franchise has even forced a deciding Game Seven.

Regulation ended at 121-121 after JV Casio, picking up the ball after De Ocampo’s pass intended for Larry Fonacier sailed too strong, knocked down a three-point shot.

Fonacier had 25 points to lead seven players who scored in double figures for Talk ‘N Text. De Ocampo had 21 points  -- 17 coming in the fourth and overtime periods -- while Jimmy Alapag, who hit a crucial three-point shot with 55 seconds left in regulation that gave the Texters the lead at 117-116 -- contributed 11 assists and 10 points.

David had his highest output in the Finals with 36 points. But he played for 48 minutes and ran out of steam in the end and went 0-of-5 from the field in overtime.

Marcio Lassiter and Sean Anthony added 25 points apiece while Casio had 18 points and 11 assists.

The Tigers shot an amazing 53.5 percent from the field in the first half, but that did not equate to an upperhand as the Texters led 63-60 at the break after Alapag converted a buzzer-beating three-point shot.

David was at attack mode early on, scoring 18 first-half points. He gave Powerade a 34-23 lead on a jumper, but Talk ‘N Text was swift to fight back.

The Texters unleashed a 22-6 blast to seize back the advantage at 45-40.

Fonacier led Talk ‘N Text in scoring in the first half with 12, while Ali Peek had 11.


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.

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