PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines—Hitting three-pointers in the nick of time has become quite ordinary for Alex Cabagnot.
Cabagnot swished a long three with 12.9 seconds remaining as Petron repulsed Talk ‘N Text, 95-93, to gain a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series Monday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.
With the shot clock winding down and the Tropang Texters clinging to a two-point lead, Danny Ildefonso kicked it out to a waiting Cabagnot at the top of the arc for the three that completed the Boosters’ rise from 20 points down.
“It was pure luck,” said the down-to-earth Cabagnot, who also pulled off a similar feat last month at Barangay Ginebra’s expense.
Cabagnot’s heroics preserved a brilliant night for Dennis Miranda, who had 12 of his 20 points in the fourth period that energized the Boosters from a lifeless third quarter.
Miranda opened the fourth with back-to-back threes and anchored a 14-2 run that leveled the count at 91, 2:24 remaining.
The Boosters missed three opportunities to grab the lead, allowing the Tropang Texters to gain the edge, 93-91, on Ali Peek’s free throws.
Petron coach Ato Agustin drew up one last play with Arwind Santos forced to give it up to Ildefonso, who passed off to Cabagnot for the triple that sailed above the outstretched arms of Ryan Reyes.
Game 4 is scheduled tomorrow.
The Tropang Texters used a 15-3 run that spanned the first two quarters to gain a 46-26 lead on Japeth Aguilar’s three-point play.
Silent for more than six minutes, the Boosters charged back with Chris Lutz and Miranda combining for 10 points in a windup that brought them within 48-38 at the break.
Meanwhile, over-achieving Powerade aims to dig a deeper hole for Rain or Shine that only two teams had managed to climb out of when the Tigers go for a 3-1 lead over the Elasto Painters today in their own semifinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead after pulling off a 104-99 overtime victory in Game 3 Sunday night.
Despite falling behind, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao—who was fined P80,000 yesterday for his tirade against officiating after Game 2—was hardly bothered.
Commissioner Chito Salud slapped a fine of P50,000 for Guiao’s ninth technical foul of the conference for using profane language during a heated stretch in the game and an additional P30,000 for “issuing statements to the press that are deemed prejudicial and inimical to the best interest of the league.”
Salud said he didn’t find any sufficient ground that officiating had been unfair to the Elasto Painters in Game 2 which Powerade won, 121-113, to tie the series.
The scores:
PETRON 95—Santos 25, Miranda 20, Ildefonso 13, Cabagnot 12, Lutz 11, Yeo 9, Reyes 5, Doruelo 0, Agustin 0, Baclao 0, Tugade 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT 93—De Ocampo 20, Aguilar 16, Alapag 15, Dillinger 12, Williams 9, Carey 6, Castro 5, Fonacier 5, Peek 5, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 18-25, 38-48, 67-75, 95-93