ILDEFONSO STARS AS PETRON BLAZE RALLIES AGAIN VS TALK ‘N TEXT

By InterAKTV

Petron Blaze scored another come-from-behind win over Talk ‘N Text, this time with Danny Ildefonso playing the hero.

The Boosters erased another double-digit lead by the Tropang Texters and banked on Ildefonso’s game-long brilliance to pull off an 85-82 victory in Game Four for a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Ildefonso finished with 22 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field, his best offensive game in the last four seasons. It came at the right time for Petron, which moves closer for a back-to-back finals stint.

“We need one more win. We have to focus on Friday’s game,” said Boosters coach Ato Agustin.

“May tendency na kapag 3-1, the players would relax. Dapat ang mindset ng players, focus pa rin. It’s a best-of-seven, we need four wins.”

Rookie Chris Lutz chipped in 13 points, including the two crucial free throws that gave Petron an 85-82 with 9.3 seconds remaining.

Talk ‘N Text missed two chances to send the game into overtime, as Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag missed their respective three-point attempts.

Joseph Yeo also had 13 points while Alex Cabagnot, the Game Three hero, chipped in eight points and 10 assists. Cabagnot was held scoreless in the first three quarters and missed his first six attempts.

Just like in the previous game, the Tropang Texters controlled the match most of the way and even led by 10 points, 50-40, early in the third quarter.

They were still ahead at 66-60 entering the fourth quarter when Cabagnot nailed his first basket, a three-pointer that sparked a 7-0 blast capped by Ildefonso’s fade-away jumper to give Petron the lead, 67-66.

It was a see-saw battle since, with Talk ‘N Text taking a slim 80-79 edge on De Ocampo’s three-pointer with 3:08 left in the game.

Ildefonso countered with a jumper, 81-80, but Ali Peek sank two free throws to give the lead back to the Texters, 82-81.

After both teams exchanged empty possessions, the 35-year old Ildefonso again made a crucial basket off a feed from Denok Miranda, to give Petron an 83-82 ege with 56.7 seconds remaining.

De Ocampo misfired in the next play and so did Miranda, but Ildefonso collared a loose ball that led to Lutz’s clutch free throws.

“Nandoon ‘yung composure ng players, hindi sila nag-panic lalo na si captain ball [Ildefonso],” said Agustin. “Kapag playoffs, alam niya gagawin. Danny I. is Danny I.”

Ryan Reyes led the Texters with 17 points but would most likely miss Game Five as he injured his right wrist. De Ocampo added 15 points.

“All we need is to win on Friday. We need to find a way to win,” said Talk ‘N Text head coach Chot Reyes.

Scores:

PETRON 85 – Ildefonso 22, Lutz 13, Yeo 13, Cabagnot 8, Santos 7, Reyes 6, Sharma 6, Miranda 5, Tugade 3, Baclao 2.

TALK N’ TEXT 82 – Reyes 17, De Ocampo 15, Castro 13, Dillinger 9, Peek 9, Fonacier 6, Williams 5, Carey 4, Alapag 3, Aguilar 1.

Quarters: 22-23, 38-44, 60-66, 85-82