PBA: Texters trump Aces in six, force Finals duel with Rain or Shine

(Updated 9:39pm) The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters refused to ring in the new year with a do-or-die game, defeating the Alaska Aces, 82-78, in game six of their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series on Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Aces gave the Tropa all they could dish out, but in the end, the poise and experience of the back-to-back defending Philippine Cup champions was too much for the young Aces to handle.

[Review the play-by-play of this game here]

With the win, the Texters now set up a Finals match-up against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who also won their semifinals series against the San Mig Coffee Mixers on Thursday, also in six games.

Alapag scored all of his 15 points in the second half to give the Tropang Texters some separation in the third quarter and keep the Aces at bay in the fourth. Jayson Castro led the Tropa with 16 points, but it was again a total team effort for Norman Black's charges, as five of them scored in double digits.

"I'm happy for my players," Black said. "They dedicated themselves to get into the Finals again and now we have a chance to win three in a row."

The Aces had the chance to sweep the rug from underneath the feet of the Tropang Texters but they were not able to bridge a five-point lead that the Tropang Texters built in the endgame. Alaska came up empty on multiple trips on offense, missing the production of Cyrus Baguio, who only tallied three points in 43 minutes of play.

The Tropang Texters controlled the tempo of the game by allowing Alaska only three fast break points the entire game. Although they were out-rebounded 46-48, Talk 'N Text shot better from the field, making 41.7 percent of their shots compared to only 38.6 percent for Alaska.

"I think they have grown by leaps and bounds this conference," Black said of Alaska. "They were a tough nut to crack."

[Related: Praises all around for Alaska head coach Trillo]

The Tropang Texters raced to a 18-12 lead in the first quarter thanks largely to the efforts of Kelly Williams, but a Dondon Hontiveros basket at the 3:36 mark of the first trimmed the Talk 'N Text lead to four. Jayson Castro quickly countered with a 7-2 run on his own, making his third straight lay-up in a span of two minutes give his team a 25-16 advantage. After a baseline jumper miss from Gabby Espinas, Calvin Abueva ended the quarter with a follow-up to trim the Talk 'N Text lead down to seven, 25-18.

Castro continued his hot shooting as he sank a triple on their first possession of the second period. After getting floored on one play resulting to a Harvey Carey layup, Abueva made the Tropang Texters pay as he dished off a pass for a Sonny Thoss basket then scored on a floater for a 32-26 count still in favor of Talk 'N Text. Abueva sank a long two at the 3:56 mark of the second quarter to trim the TNT lead to three, 37-34.

Espinas sank a mid-range jumper a minute and a half later to bring the Aces to within one. After a traveling violation called on Ali Peek, Espinas was fouled, leading to two free throws to take the lead for Alaska, 38-37. The former PCU stalwart extended the Alaska advantage with an and-one play but Ryan Reyes took it right back with a three-point shot.

Even after the scorching Alaska run in the second quarter, the Tropang Texters still managed to get the lead at the half, 42-41, via two free throws from Castro. The shifty guard from Pampanga led his team in scoring with 12 points at the half. He was backed up by Kelly Williams who scored nine in the first 24 minutes of play.

For Alaska, it was Abueva who carried the fight with 17 points and 9 rebounds in only 14 minutes of action.

Espinas chipped in nine points in th first half, but the Aces were sorely missing the scoring from their guards as Jvee Casio only managed three points while Cyrus Baguio was held scoreless heading into the halftime break.

The Tropang Texters pounded the ball inside in the third quarter. An and-one play from Ranidel de Ocampo had TNT leading, 51-45, but Abueva quickly scored on the other side to keep the lead manageable for Alaska.

After being held scoreless for the first 30 minutes of the game, Cyrus Baguio finally made his presence felt with a free throw followed by a long two for a 55-52 count still in favor of the Tropang Texters.

The advantage changed hands after Espinas scored down low, followed by an and-one play from RJ Jazul at the four minute mark of the third quarter for a 57-55 Alaska lead. Jimmy Alapag then exploded for eight straight points for a 68-59 lead for Talk 'N Text, but Casio replied with three free throws for a 64-62 count at the end of the third quarter.

A Sonny Thoss split from the line turned things into a two-point game, 66-64, with 10:23 remaining in the fourth.

TNT would respond with a 7-3 run, anchored on one of Jimmy Alapag's timely threes to make it a six-point game, 73-67, at the 8:51 mark.

After an Abueva undergoal stab made it a five-point game with 5:28 to go, Kelly Williams and Ali Peek combined for four straight to put the Texters ahead by nine, 80-71, with 4:08 remaining.

Jvee Casio responded with a four-point play, but a turnover by the Aces followed by a missed three from Hontiveros kept it a five-point game for the Aces.

A Casio missed trey with a minute and a half gave the Texters the ball anew, but Talk n' Text committed a 24-second shot clock violation on the ensuing play.

Thoss forced the issue inside but missed, but Jayson Castro ended up with the last touch to give Alaska a new shot clock. Three's from Abueva and Casio were both unsuccessful, as Abueva was forced to foul Talk n' Text to stop the clock. Alapag would end up canning two free throws, before Hontiveros hit a trey at the other end with eight seconds to go.

Ranidel De Ocampo split from the line with seven seconds remaining, but the Aces would fail to overcome the five-point lead, giving Talk n' Text the victory.

Abueva led Alaska with a career high 23 points which came with 13 rebounds for his 11th double-double of his career.

After the game, Black had nothing but good words for the team that they just vanquished.

"Hats off to the Alaska team. They proved in this conference that they are for real," Black said. "They have a young coach and a young coaching staff which only means they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future."

Black will now lock horns with an old foe in Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao in a battle of two grandmasters.

[Related: In sole elimination round meeting, Talk 'N Text outlasted Rain or Shine]

"Their bigs are really good shooters and they have great perimeter players in Jeff Chan and Chris Tiu," said Black. "They are very physical on both offense and defense. I think what we need do to right now is give our players some rest."

The Philippine Cup Finals begin on Wednesday, 6:45 pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. - Carlo Pamintuan / Renee Fopalan, GMA News