PBA: Talk 'N Text wins Commissioner's Cup after outlasting Rain or Shine in 2OT epic

The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters went through the eye of the needle before defeating Rain or Shine, 121-119, in double overtime in Game Seven to win the Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Ranidel De Ocampo was named finals Most Valuable Player after scoring 34 points to lead the Tropang Texters to their first title since the 2013 Philippine Cup.

Import Ivan Johnson added 30 points while Best Player of the Conference Jayson Castro added 30 for Talk 'N Text, which won its second Commissioner's Cup in franchise history and seventh overall PBA championship.

"The players won the game, they made the big shots they made the big stops," said Talk 'N Text coach Jong Uichico, who won his first title with the team in his second conference at the helm of the Tropang Texters. His last PBA championship came in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Texters established their lead in the first quarter, as their starters scored 26 of the team's 29 points. Paul Lee, on the other hand, carried Rain or Shine, tallying 10 of the team's 21.

Coach Jong Uichico's squad looked like they were going to cruise to victory in the fourth, leading by as much as nine points with seven minutes left, 84-75. Back to back triples from Chris Tiu and Jonathan Uyloan trimmed the lead to one halfway into the payoff period, but back to back treys from Jayson Castro took it right back.

The two teams greeted the final two minutes with TNT ahead seven after a pair of Larry Fonacier charities, 96-89, but a five-point swing from Wayne Chism slashed the lead to two, 96-94, with 64 seconds left. Ivan Johnson was then sent to the line to create more separation. The import split with 39 ticks left, but Chism responded with his own trey at the other end to tie the game. Castro and Tiu traded misses at the end of regulation.

In extra time, Jervy Cruz and Wayne Chism gave Rain or Shine a taste of the lead. The Elasto Painters were ahead by three with 1:47 left, before Ivan Johnson tied the game with a triple. A pair of Larry Fonacier charities pushed TNT ahead anew, 106-104, with 1:08 left, but Paul Lee countered with a long bomb to knot things up with 47 seconds left as the two teams went to double overtime.

In the second overtime, TNT took care of their freethrows in the end, pushing the lead to three with 13 ticks to go. Paul Lee was send to the line in the final play, where he split to end the game. - JST/RAF, GMA News