PBA: Talk 'N Text repeat as Phil Cup champs

(Updated 9:39 p.m.) The Talk'N Text Tropang Texters made history Sunday night, becoming the first team in the last 27 years to repeat as PBA Philippine Cup champions after finishing off the Powerade Tigers in Game 5 of the Finals, 110-101, before a crowd of more than 13,000 at the Araneta Coliseum. The Tropang Texters closed out the best-of-seven series, 4-1, to retain the All-Filipino title, the first to do so after Great Taste last did the trick in 1985. Coach Chot Reyes won his fifth Philippine Cup crown, second most in the 37-year history of the league after the legendary Virgilio `Baby’ Dalupan (6).              In all, it was the eighth PBA title for Reyes, tying Jong Uichico for the fourth winningest of all-time.               “Defending an all-Filipino crown took 27 years, mas matagal pa sa Grand Slam,” Reyes said in the din of the Tropang Texters’ celebration at mid-court of the Big Dome. “This makes it a lot sweeter. Ito pala ang kapalit.” The Talk `N Text came up short of completing a sweep of last year’s Triple Crown, but there was no denying the franchise of winning its fifth championship, and third in the last four conferences, since entering the league in 1996. Heroes abound for the champions Ryan Reyes played his best game of the series, finishing with a team-high 20 points, eight rebounds, and an all-time league and Finals record of 10 steals. Ranidel de Ocampo made up for his lackluster three-point production the last time by banging in 18 points and six assists. Jimmy Alapag added 17, Jayson Castro 10, and Ali Peek and Kelly Williams combined for 23 points in a balanced-scoring outing for the Tropang Texters. Larry Fonacier failed to submit double figures this time (9 pts), but was deserving of the Finals MVP award after averaging 16.2 points, six rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 34 minutes of play during the entire series.              Talk 'N Text made known they wanted this one badly from the onset.              With just about every Tropang Texter hitting their shots, the defending champion jumped to a commanding 22-13 lead, which they stretched to 14 at the end of the first 12 minutes of play, capped by a long three-pointer by Alapag at the buzzer.              It was 40-17 early in the second quarter, before the Tropang Texters padded it to its biggest at 82-58 late in the third.              Game over              Gary David had a game-high 37 points, 20 of them coming in the first half, to pace the Tigers, achieving their highest finish since winning the Reinforced Conference title in 2003.              Sean Anthony added 22 points and 13 rebounds, and rookies JV Casio and Marcio Lassiter teamed up for a combined 31 points as Powerade failed to complete its Cinderella story that saw the franchise became the lowest seed team at no. 8 to advance to the Finals. - AMD, GMA News Talk 'N Text (110) -- Reyes 20, De Ocampo 18, Alapag 17, Castro 14, Peek 13, Williams 10, Fonacier 9, Dillinger 7, Gamalinda 2, Carey 0.              Powerade (101) -- David 37, Anthony 22, Casio 19, Lassiter 12, Adducul 4, Kramer 3, Crisano 3, Vanlandingham 1, Lingganay 0, Allera 0, Cruz 0.              Quarterscores: 30-16, 60-46, 85-64, 110-101