INQUIRER PHOTO/ August dela CRuz
MANILA, Philippines—Talk ‘N Text blew a won game in regulation with a throw-in error but eventually downed Powerade in overtime, 133-126, Wednesday night as the Tropang Texters moved within another victory of sweeping the PBA Philippine Cup title series.
The Texters opened up strong in the extra five minutes behind Ranidel de Ocampo, whose bad inbound to Larry Fonacier paved the way for a gun-beating triple by JV Casio that forged extension at 121-all.
De Ocampo went on to finish with 21 points behind the 25 of Fonacier and the Tropang Texters, who barely missed a Grand Slam last season, moved to the brink of becoming just the sixth team in league history to sweep a best-of-seven series.
Gary David scored 36 points, Marcio Lassiter had 25 like Sean Anthony and top overall pick JV Casio accounted for 18 for the Tigers, who looked dead as they trailed 116-121 with 11.8 seconds left before forging the overtime.
“This was our biggest step (to winning the championship),” Reyes, who is bidding to win the fifth title for the franchise and his eighth as a head coach, told reporters later. “We still have to take the final step (tomorrow).”
Game 4 is tomorrow also at the Big Dome.
Powerade lost for the first time in six playoff games where they scored more than 100 points, and the Tigers now need to win four straight games to become the first team in PBA history to ever overcome a 0-3 deficit and win.
Of the 11 teams that took a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven, only Gordon’s Gin (Ginebra) was stretched to a sixth game—against Alaska in the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup.
“We’re going to play a team that has nothing to lose. And that is always dangerous,” Reyes noted. “We know that, because we were down 1-3 to Petron. We know how Powerade feels and thinks right now.”
It was such a bitter pill to swallow for the Tigers, who had control for majority of the game, only to lose because they couldn’t buy a bucket for close to the first three minutes of extension.
“We are still going to maintain the kind of fight that is in us,” said Powerade coach Bo Perasol.
The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 133—Fonacier 25, De Ocampo 21, Reyes 19, Peek 16, Williams 14, Castro 10, Alapag 10, Aguilar 6, Dillinger 6, Carey 4, Lao 2, Gamalinda 0.
POWERADE 126—David 36, Lassiter 25, Anthony 25, Casio 18, Kramer 14, Cruz 3, Adducul 3, Lingganay 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0.
Quarters: 28-34, 63-60, 87-93, 121-121, 133-126