Jimmy Alapag of Talk ’N Text tries to stop driving Denok Miranda of Petron in Sunday’s match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Texters won, 111-108. PHOTO BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Jimmy Alapag scored 29 points and dished out 10 assists as Talk ’N Text nipped Petron Blaze, 111-108, to knot the best-of-seven semifinals to 3-all in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Alapag, who flirted with a triple double as he also hauled down seven rebounds, nailed crucial free throws down the stretch after Larry Fonacier unleashed a huge three pointer with a minute left to play as the Texters forge a winner-take-all game seven.
“I wish we could celebrate but all we’ve done is tie the series. There’s still one game that needs to be won,” said head coach Chot Reyes, as his squad came back from a 1-3 series deficit.
Ranidel de Ocampo also came up big for the Texters, who missed the service of Ryan Reyes, with 23 points and four rebounds despite missing crucial shots in the final minute while Fonacier added 15 points.
It is the closest best-of-seven series in the history of the league with all six games decided by no more than four points, and even on Sunday night no team was able to pull away for good.
Fonacier’s triple gave Talk ’N Text a precarious 106-102 lead, before crucial lapses by the Boosters paved the way to the Texters’ victory.
Texters were up 85-76 to start the fourth quarter but it was quickly erased by the Boosters behind Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda.
Santos finished with 20 points and six rebound while Alex Cabagnot made up for his anemic shooting from the field by making 11-of-12 free throws to finish with 18 points.
Game seven is on Wednesday on the same venue, with the winner advancing to the finals versus the victor of the Powerade-Rain or Shine series, which finishes Sunday.