TNT CLAIMS COMMISSIONER’S CUP TITLE WITH CLASSIC GAME 7 WIN
Talk n Text outfought Rain or Shine in a truly classic Game Seven duel, pulling through in 58 minutes of a hell of a battle as the Tropang Texters reclaimed the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown before a crowd of over 12,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Ivan Johnson outlasted Paul Lee, Wayne Chism and Chris Tiu in an epic shootout as the Texters squeezed out a 121-119 win in double-overtime for the franchise’s first championship in seven conferences.
The former Philippine Cup three-peat champs, under new coach Jong Uichico and American coaching consultant Tab Baldwin, annexed a fifth crown in five years and seventh in all in franchise history.
“Congratulations to our team and to Rain or Shine,” said Talk n Text team owner Manny V. Pangilinan, needing not to mention that the two teams fought a series that’s one for the books.
The championship hung in the balance until Johnson pulled down the crucial rebound on a deliberate missed charity by Lee with 3.1 ticks left.
Larry Fonacier dribbled away the remaining time then the Texters erupted into frenzy under a rain of balloons and confetti, celebrating their first championship at the end of their Philippine Cup three-peat last year.
Fonacier himself sank two important free throws making it 121-118 with 13.1 seconds to go.
But the triumvirate of De Ocampo, Castro and Johnson provided the Texters the tremendous boost.
De Ocampo found no better time to fire a career-high 34 points, Castro churned out a near triple-double with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds and Johnson contributed 30 markers and 11 boards.
De Ocampo highlighted his huge game with a crucial binge of eight points in the second OT and went home with the Holcim Cement Finals MVP award
“Lahat kami dito MVP. Kasi lahat kami nagtulong-tulong para makuha ito,” said De Ocampo during the awards rites.
The E-Painters, on the other hand, banked largely on the exploits of Lee and Chism as they fought back from an early 16-point deficit and nearly stole the game in regulation and in first overtime.
Lee also came through with a career-high 38 points, including seven three-pointers while Chism got away with 34 markers and 29 rebounds. Chism frolicked with 24 markers after the third period.
The E-Painters won’t go away after shrugging off their poor start but the Texters won’t be denied.
“It’s a relief we escaped in the end,” said Uichico.
“I have to thank also yung pinanggalingan ko. I will not forget Ambassador (Danding) Cojuangco and Mr. Henry Cojuangco. I started (PBA coaching) with them,” added Uichico who won eight crowns for San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.
The count was squared up when Tiu muffed a shot challenged by Carey in regulation and then Lee misfired a trey with three ticks left in the first OT.
“It’s really a tough, tough game. Rain or Shine just wouldn’t give up,” said Uichico.
The Texters unloaded a big bunch of treys in pounding the E-Painters’ pathetic start for a 21-5 lead in the first five minutes and a 29-21 margin in the opening quarter.
Johnson, De Ocampo, Castro and Fonacier hit a triple each with the Texters also making two three-point plays in a fiery start in the contest.
The Texters had nailed all those treys before getting a first non-triple courtesy of De Ocampo on a short jumper off TY Tang to make it 23-8.
The E-Painters took a while to get going behind their curious staring five in Chism, Tang, Lee, Raymond Almazan, and Jireh Ibanes in this no-tomorrow game.
But despite a woeful start and a mere six-point output from Chism, the E-Painters stayed right behind the Texters, 42-50, through the first half. (SB)
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