MANILA, 25 January 2005 — Talk N’Text’s smallest man delivered the biggest blows and the Phone Pals are back into the finals they cherish the most.
Jimmy Alapag scored six overtime points to power TNT over Shell 102-96 last night to sweep their semifinals series and earn a return trip to the Gran Matador-PBA Philippine Cup finals at the Araneta Coliseum. The 5-foot-8 Alapag knocked down a triple opening the extra period and then came through with a barreling drive following a Bong Ravena basket, giving the Phone Pals a comfortable 93-88 lead.
There was nothing Shell could do from there as they suffered a second straight overtime loss to the Phone Pals, who held the Turbo Chargers scoreless in extra time in Game Two for a 92-84 victory.
Talk N Text took the series, three games to nil and will now face the winner of the San Miguel Beer-Ginebra best-of-five semifinals series for a good shot at retaining the title in the tournament formerly known as the All-Filipino.
In the second game, San Miguel Beer repulsed Ginebra, 96-91, to gain the upper hand in their battle for the other finals slot.
Alapag’s fiery performance netted him 22 points-11 coming in the third period-on a scorching seven-of-12 field-goal shooting. The Fil-Am also had two assists in an effort badly needed since the Phone Pals decided not to use Willie Miller, who was injured in Game Two but came in uniform.
But even without Miller, the Phone Pals had enough firepower from their deep roster to ably fill the void.
Felix Belano stepped up big, hitting the crucial free throws with 11 seconds left in regulation to tie at 86 and send the game into overtime. Belano also sealed the game with another pair of charities in the extension that put Talk N Text up 102-94. Shell was on the verge of their first win in the series but couldn’t find the big plays that would have punctuated a searing rally that brought them back into the game after going down by as much as 72-57 entering the final period.
With the Turbo Chargers leading 86-84, Rensy Bajar committed an inbounds passing error in front of their bench in the final 12 seconds of regulation, leading to a foul by Tony dela Cruz on Belano.
Belano hit the free throws, and Shell still had a full 11 seconds remaining to launch a game-winning basket. It did not come as Ronald Tubid missed a three-point shot, and Billy Mamaril missed what could have been a follow-up.
Ravena had his best game of the series with 16 points while Nino Gelig and Allan Salangsang combined for 15 points.
Shell showed one gallant stand. They trailed for most part of the game until Rich Alvarez highlighted a 25-8 blast with a rare four-point play as the Turbo Chargers seized the lead 82-80, 5:28 remaining.
The scores:
Talk N Text (102) -- Alapag 22, Ravena 16, Belano 16, Telan 10, De Ocampo 9, Gelig 8, Pablo 8, Salangsang 7, Camaso 6, Fran 0.
Shell (96) -- Dela Cruz 22, Alvarez 16, Tubid 13, Ferreria 12, Bajar 12, Mamaril 11, Cruz 3, Calaguio 3, Sotto 2, Sta. Maria 1, Yap 1, Jackson 0.
Quarterscores: 12-14; 43-33; 72-57; 86-86; 102-96.
