TNT Tropang Texters repeat as All-Filipino champs

Talk ‘N Text put an end to what could have been a Cinderella-like finish by Powerade with a convincing 110-101 victory in Game 5 Sunday night to become the first team in 27 years to repeat as All-Filipino champion of the Philippine Basketball Association.

The series clincher, which the Tropang Texters posted with literally plenty to spare as they led in double figures for most of the way, also set the tone for another run at the elusive grand slam which slipped their hands last season.

“Defending an all-Filipino crown took 27 years, mas matagal pa sa grand slam,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes right after they wrapped up the Philippine Cup, 4-1, before a jampacked Araneta Coliseum. “This makes it a lot sweeter. Ito pala ang kapalit.”

Denied of a sweep of the race-to-four series by a rejuvenated Tigers side, which got back into the hunt with a classic win in Game Four, the Texters made sure they won’t be in the losing end of erecting a 3-1 series lead only to falter in the last three — as what they did in ousting Petron Blaze in the semifinals.

They stormed to a 23-point lead at 40-17 early on and coasted with a consistent defense and occasional incursions that allowed them not only to win for the franchise its fifth title — and third in a conference without imports — since joining the league in 1996 and match Great Taste’s long-standing record as the first team to retain the most prestigious crown in the PBA.

Ryan Reyes was more than a revelation in Game 5 and came up with a rare double-double — complimenting his 20 points with an all-time league and Finals record 10 steals. He was only two rebounds short of a triple double.

Ranidel de Ocampo was practically absent in Game 4, but was very much in the game Sunday night. He had 18 points and six assists.

Larry Fonacier was on top of his professional career though as he was adjudged the Finals MVP built around a series averages of 16.2 points, six rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag was also hot for the Texters with 17 points, and so was Jayson Castro with 14 markers. Ali Peek and Kelly Williams combined for 23 for Talk ‘N Text which drew double-digit outputs from six players.

Reyes now has his eighth championships under his belt, tying Jong Uichico at fourth place in the honor roll. Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan tops them all with 15, followed by Tim Cone with 13 and Norman Black with 10.
If the Tigers' road to the finals was already a fairy tale of sorts, the Texters conquest of the Philippine Cup is teeming with drama.

They started the conference minus five key players — Alapag, Williams, De Ocampo, Reyes and Aaron Aban — all of whom were injured. And who could forget Peek recovering from a gunshot wound by a still unidentified assailant?

 “But a lot of this happened the night when Ali was shot. The entire team went to him and the players, Ali was weeping while we all prayed for him. I thought at that time, this was a very special group,” Reyes recounted.

 “I wanted to give up, wanted to retire. But they were all there for me. I had to come back,” said Peek.
Gary David, the Best Player of the Conference, again starred for the Tigers with his third straight 30-plus output with 37 points, while Sean Anthony, JV Casio and Marcio Lassiter contributed 22, 29 and 12, respectively. Powerade coach Bo Perasol’s big men — Rommel Adducul and Doug Kramer — however, could only combine for seven points.