Game Tomorrow: (Araneta Coliseum)

6 p.m. – Powerade vs. Talk ‘N Text


GARY David scored 35 points and Sean Anthony added 19 points and 11 rebounds as Powerade survived another do-or-die game last night, nipping defending champion Talk ‘N Text 100-97 in Game Four of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven championship series at the Araneta Coliseum.

David shot 11-of-20 from the field and converted 11 of his 12 free throws, a performance that disproved the belief that a player coming off an award is bound to have an off night.

“We have a general game-plan of being the best on our offensive side, of who we are, and doing something more on defense,” said Tigers’ coach Bo Perasol. “We want to make sure that we are here to compete.”

But it took one spirited end-game stance for Powerade to stay alive.

The Tropang Texters fought back from a 92-81 deficit, tied it at 97 on a three-point shot by Larry Fonacier, before Powerade held their breath as Talk ‘N Text bungled a pair of open rainbow territory attempts that could have sent the game into overtime.

Anthony displayed nerves of steel when he broke the 97-97 deadlock with a twinner, and Jayson Castro uncharacteristically missed two free throws at the other end.

David was fouled but only had a split (100-97), leaving Talk ‘N Text with 14.6 seconds to map out a plan.

Castro was the first to have an open look at the basket but misfired, and Anthony then lost the ball at the sidelines. Alapag then shook off David for the final shot of the night, but the attempt drifted off mark.

Marcio Lassiter contributed 13 points, Doug Kramer had 11 points, and Rommel Adducul scored 10 points. JV Casio had eight assists.

Fonacier led the Texters with 20 points while Castro had 18 points – 16 coming in the third quarter – to go with 10 rebounds. Alapag added 18 points and flicked six assists.

The Tigers flashed their survival’s instinct early, and the only time that they yielded the upperhand in the first half was at 8-7 when Alapag hit two free throws with 8:40 left in the first period.

Since then, Powerade poured on the points. It led highest at 46-32 in the second quarter on a lay-up by Josh Vanlandingham with 3:35 remaining before the halftime break.

The Tigers took the half, 53-43, the first time that the franchise had led after two quarters.

David scored 16 first-half points, while Fonacier led the Texters with 13.  Ryan Reyes contributed big for Talk ‘N Text, too, in the first half, with 10.

Powerade led after two quarters despite giving away 12 more rebounds to Talk ‘N Text (31-19). What the Tigers pounded on was the Texters clumsiness of their possessions, scoring 17 off Talk ‘N Text’s 13 turnovers.


The scores:

POWERADE (100) - David 35, Anthony 19, Lassiter 13, Kramer 11, Adducul 10, Casio 7, Lingganay 3, Vanlandingham 2, Cruz 0, Crisano 0.

TALK N’ TEXT (97) - Fonacier 20, Castro 18, Alapag 18, Carey 11, Reyes 10, Peek 8, Williams 7, De Ocampo 3, Dillinger 2, Aguilar 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23, 53-43, 75-75, 100-97