Alex Cabagnot vs Jason Castro. Photo by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Despite a shaky finish that left its coach disgusted, Talk ‘N Text Thursday night went on to pip Petron Blaze, 87-83, for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Comfortably ahead for most of the night, the defending champion Tropang Texters barely survived the hard-finishing Boosters, needing some critical misses by Petron and some clutch free throws by Larry Fonacier to gain an edge.
“We should close games out better,” coach Chot Reyes told reporters with a somber face. “It was a very disappointing way to finish. Fortunately, our defense held out for the most part.”
Fonacier, the only star in the Talk ‘N Text lineup never to miss a game since last season, exploded for 22 points, 15 of them coming from beyond the arc as the Texters established leads of as big as 13 points several times before holding off the Boosters.
Petron, which upset the Texters in the Governors’ Cup Finals to spoil what would have just been the fifth Grand Slam in the league, never gave up and rode Alex Cabagnot’s heroics in the second half to make a game out of it.
“It’s just one game, all it does is give us a headstart,” Reyes added.
Reyes finally got the complement of all his superstars suiting up, and for more than three quarters, it seemed like it was too much to handle for Petron.
But Cabagnot almost single-handedly brought the Boosters back.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Cabagnot erupted for 11 in the third period and had nine in the fourth, his last two free throws putting the Boosters within 81-85 with 1:22 left and with a solid chance to turn things around.
Only after a missed three-point attempt by rookie Chris Lutz for Petron, which came after two Fonacier free throws off Arwind Santos’ last foul with 18.9 ticks left, did the Texters finally put the game to bed.
Game 2 is slated tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Texters, like Rain or Shine, which also leads Powerade, 1-0, will try to become the 11th straight squad to rule a best-of-seven series after taking Game 1.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine tries to tighten the noose on Powerade today when the Elasto Painters gun for a 2-0 lead over the Tigers in the resumption of their own best-of-seven series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 87—Fonacier 22, Williams 14, Castro 10, Dillinger 9, Reyes 9, Peek 8, Aguilar 5, Carey 5, Gamalinda 2, De Ocampo 2, Alapag 1.
PETRON 83—Cabagnot 20, Reyes 18, Lutz 15, Santos 10, Tugade 9, Ildefonso 6, Yeo 4, Baclao 1, Doruelo 0, Agustin 0, Miranda 0.
Quarters: 25-18, 45-36, 69-57, 87-83