Ginebra stays alive, survives Talk ‘N Text
By Musong R. Castillo
PLAYING in a do-or-die game for the third time in close to a month, Barangay Ginebra did what it is traditionally very good at: Survive.

PLAYING in a do-or-die game for the third time in close to a month, Barangay Ginebra did what it is traditionally very good at: Survive.

Ranidel De Ocampo hit a triple with 33.7 seconds left last night and boosted Talk ‘N Text past Barangay Ginebra, 85-79, to forge a 1-1 tie in their Cebuana Lhuillier PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Four series before the tournament’s biggest crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

ERIC Dawson took over for Meralco at the crunch last night and keyed an 88-85 decision of San Mig Coffee that moved the Bolts within another quarterfinal win of dethroning the Mixers from the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Not that he’s playing favorites, but Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black just doesn’t want to face either Alaska or Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals—and with a twice-to-beat disadvantage at that.

One hundred forty-five professional basketball players voluntarily attended a tax briefing at the Bureau of Internal Revenue headquarters in Quezon City after the BIR filed tax evasion complaints against two of them.

THERE was a choking incident again in the Talk ‘N Text-Petron Blaze game last night, but this one had the Boosters’ hands on their own necks.

THERE’S something about Talk ’N Text that puts Alaska on fire. The Aces demolished the Tropang Texters, 92-69, last night, when two teams came up with statement games that fanned their winning streaks in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Keith Benson topped off a 30-point night with a three-point play in the final 38 seconds, helping Talk ‘N Text seal an 86-83 decision over a hard-finishing Air21 side last night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Talk ‘N Text’s Jimmy Alapag has been the MVP, a national team member, a Finals MVP and just recently, a six-time PBA champion.

Talk ‘N Text supporters wore T-shirts with the slogan “Defense wins championships” written on them.

With a commanding lead, Talk ‘N Text shoots for another victory against Rain or Shine Sunday and virtually secure the PBA Philippine Cup title for the defending champion Tropang Texters at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Talk N’ Text bottled up Rain or Shine’s big guns for the second straight game last night, and the best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup Finals many thought would be a long series is suddenly waving a checkered flag right around the corner.

Call this a “deep” series. Rain or Shine, a squad laden with hard-working talents, and Talk ‘N Text, a side loaded with high-profile stars, start their best-of-seven series for the PBA Philippine Cup today at Smart Araneta Coliseum with both teams prepared to go the distance.