PBA: Cardona, Alapag help TNT slip past Burger King in 2OT

MANILA, Philippines – Mac Cardona buried the go-ahead basket and Jimmy Alapag had two key free throws and a big offensive rebound in a draining 135-129 double overtime win by Talk ‘N Text over Burger King Wednesday night in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup at the Astrodome. Held scoreless in the fourth quarter and the first extra period, Cardona finally came alive when needed most, hitting a big three-pointer late in double overtime that put the Texters in front to stay, 129-127. Alapag followed it up with two more free throws for a four-point Talk ‘N Text cushion with 38 seconds to go. “I just tried to take charge for the team," said Alapag. He finished with 18 points – 16 from fourth quarter onwards. Burger King would threaten for the last time at 129-131, and even had the chance to send the game into a third overtime after Cardona missed on a jumper as the shot clock was winding down. But Alapag grabbed the offensive rebound and quickly swung the ball to an open Rashad Bell underneath the basket for an easy two to clinch the hard-earned win, 133-129, with 12 seconds left. The Texters improved to 7-6 in the standings as it got 35 points and 14 rebounds from the debuting Bell, who replaced Gary Forbes as Talk ‘N Text import. His crucial three-pointer late in the first extra period sent the game into a second overtime, 119-119. Shawn Daniels scored a conference high 27 points and 15 rebounds in a losing cause for the Whoppers (7-6), who led by as many as 47-31 in the second period. Daniels’ split from the foul line with a minute to go in the second extra period gave Burger King its last taste of the lead, 127-126. Gary David added 23 markers and Arwind Santos 14, including a driving lay up with 11 seconds left that knotted the count in regulation, 109-109. – GMANews.TV