Texters force sudden death

James Yap of San Mig (light) vs Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines–Not budging an inch and simply refusing to lose in a game that could easily pass as the title match, Talk ’N Text nipped San Mig Coffee in overtime, 84-81, to take their Final Four series in the PBA Governors’ Cup into a deciding Game 5 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Using the same move-the-ball philosophy that enabled them to extend this series into Wednesday night’s game, the Tropang Texters got contributions coming from almost everyone as they avoided elimination for the second straight night to square this series.

After giving up the first basket in extension, the Texters went on a 9-3 tear while playing no-nonsense defense as they now take momentum into tomorrow’s rubber match for the right to play in the Finals.

Paul Harris made up for his crucial blunder that resulted in the defending champion Mixers forging extension at 74-all, when he completed a 1-on-3 break that made it 81-76 heading into the final 2:30.

“We did what we had to do which is to live another day,” Talk ’N Text coach Norman Black said. “We gutted it out today and now, it’s all about who has more left in the tank come Friday (in Game 5).”

James Yap, the former two-time MVP, hit a running one-handed jumper over Harris at the buzzer to tie it all up after 48 minutes.

And after Peter June Simon knocked in a triple to beat the shotclock for 79-81, Larry Fonacier—whose scoring has been absent for practically the whole series—broke away and was spotted by Ranidel de Ocampo for a wide-open short stab with 38.7 to go for 83-79.

Talk ’N Text is shooting to become just the fourth team to overhaul a 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five series and the Texters will be trying to deal San Mig coach Tim Cone his second such debacle after bungling a 2-0 lead against Ginebra while with Alaska in 2010.

Yap finished with 23 points to lead the Mixers. He scored 16 in the first half after connecting on 4-of-5 attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

Meanwhile, Alaska goes for the kill against Rain or Shine Thursday when they clash in Game 4 of their series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

THE SCORES: 

TALK ‘N TEXT 84—Harris 22, Castro 11, Fonacier 11, De Ocampo 9, Seigle 7, Alapag 6, Williams 5, Espiritu 5, Reyes Rob 3, Aban 3, Reyes Ryan 2, Reyes Jai 0, Baclao 0, Carey 0, Canaleta 0.

SAN MIG COFFEE 81—Yap 23, Blakely 12, Pingris 12, Simon 12, Barroca 11, Devance 9, Maliksi 2, Sangalang 0, Mallari 0.

Quarters: 22-19, 33-37, 55-56, 74-74, 84-81