Staying alive: Powerade slips past TNT to avoid being swept in Finals

(Updated 10:41 p.m.) Powerade thwarted Talk 'N Text's sweep bid in the 37th PBA Philippine Cup Finals, winning Friday night's Game Four, 100-97, at the Araneta Coliseum. Sean Anthony buried a pressure-packed jumper with 39.8 seconds left to break the game's final deadlock and put the Tigers in front for good, 99-97. The Tigers' breakthrough win in the best-of-seven title series derailed what many expect to be a sweep by the Tropang Texters, who still holds a 3-1 edge over the lowest seeded team to ever reach the championship round. Game Five is on Sunday also at the Big Dome. "Buhay pa," was Powerade coach Bo Perasol's opening statement during the post-game interview. "I think I have to give it to the players for really wanting to win and let the people know that we're here to compete." And the Tigers, behind newly-crowned Best Player of the Conference Gary David, showed that they too can go toe-to-toe with the defending champions down the stretch. David finished with a game-high 35 points, including a split from the foul line with 14.6 seconds left for the final count. Anthony added 19 markers and 11 rebounds for Powerade, which led by 46-32 late in the third period and 92-81 with six minutes left in the final quarter. Rookie Marcio Lassiter, Doug Kramer and rejuvenated veteran Rommel Adducul combined for 34 points. But Talk 'N Text, as expected, came roaring back entering the homestretch. Larry Fonacier's back-to-back three pointers, six of a team-high 20 points, in a one-minute span tied the game at 97-97. The Tropang Texters again had a chance to knot the count after Anthony's jumper, but Jayson Castro, uncharacteristically, missed two free throws at the other end. After David made it a three-point Powerade lead, the reigning champions had two good attempts for a possible game-tying basket. But Castro's shot missed its mark and so did Alapag at the buzzer, even after the Talk 'N Text playmaker successfully evaded David's defense. "Kinabahan din ako nung binato ni Jimmy," said David, who shot 11-of-20 from the field and 11-of-12 from the foul line, later. Castro added 18 for the Tropang Texters—16 of them coming in the third period, including a three-pointer from about 30 feet that beat the quarter buzzer and tied the game at 75-all entering the final 12 minutes of play. — JVP, GMA News