Ranidel de Ocampo PBA IMAGE
MANILA, Philippines–No one could have written a script better than this one.
In a Game 7 that didn’t want to see an end, Talk ‘N Text needed two overtimes to gut out a 121-119 victory over a hard-fighting Rain or Shine crew on Wednesday night and clinch the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
On a night where career-highs were recorded by superstars from both sides and when a Game 7 needed 10 more minutes to be decided for the first time, the Tropang Texters returned as kings of the league, two years after winning the 2013 Philippine Cup.
Ranidel de Ocampo reset his career-high for the second time in the series with 34 points, hitting the first eight in the second extension on the way to winning the Holcim-PBA Press Corps’ Finals MVP award.
De Ocampo carried the Texters when the game truly hung in the balance as Talk ‘N Text made all but six free throws in the final 24.6 seconds to seal the deal.
It was the seventh championship for the PLDT franchise.
Import Ivan Johnson had the best of both worlds in the decider, coming away with 30 points and 11 rebounds while still managing to sneak in some cheap shots along the way, the last an elbow to the neck of Paul Lee in a looseball scramble late in the fourth quarter.
Rain or Shine had a chance to win it all in regulation, which would have completed a comeback from 16 points down in the first quarter. The Painters had possession with 1.6 seconds left only for Chris Tiu to miss the mark terribly for the first overtime at 97-all.
Jason Castro, the Best Player of the Conference, then bungled a chance for the Texters, necessitating the second extension at 106-all.
De Ocampo took over from there, hitting a short stab before draining consecutive triples that opened up a 114-108 lead heading into the final 3:15.
Rain or Shine, though, did not just roll over and die, earning a chance to turn things around one final time despite going cold offensively and failing to get import Wayne Chism involved.
Lee finished with a career-high 38, shoving the Painters to within 118-119 with 17 seconds left after a triple, only for Larry Fonacier to restore a three-point lead for the Texters with two charities off Jireh Ibañes with 13.1 to go.
“We were able to escape today’s game,” coach Jong Uichico said, as he returned to the winner’s circle himself with the ninth title of his career and first since the 2008-2009 Fiesta Conference with Ginebra San Miguel.
THE SCORES:
TALK ‘N TEXT 121—De Ocampo 34, Johnson 30, Castro 24, Fonacier 12, Washington 10, Carey 9, Rosser 2, Alas 0, Miller 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 119—Lee 38, Chism 34, Tiu 10, Uyloan 8, Ibanes 8, Norwood 6, Arana 5, Cruz Jericho 4, Quinahan 4, Belga 2, Tang 0, Chan 0, Almazan 0.
Quarters: 29-21, 50-42, 76-69, 97-97, 106-106, 121-119