2011–12 PBA Philippine Cup finals

Background

Road to the finals

Main article: 2011–12 PBA Philippine Cup

Talk 'N Text finished the elimination round tied with the B-Meg Llamados for first place. Since Talk 'N Text has an inferior quotient against B-Meg, the team got the #2 seed but still got the twice-to-beat advantage entering the quarterfinals. They defeated the 7th seeded Barako Bull Energy in one game in order to advance to the semifinals, where they faced the Petron Blaze Boosters, the team that they faced during the 2011 PBA Governors Cup finals and denied them their opportunity for a Grand Slam. Talk 'N Text defeated Petron Blaze in seven games, becoming the third team to win a best-of-seven playoff series coming from a 1–3 deficit.

Powerade on the other hand was seeded eight (due to an inferior quotient against Barako Bull), with a twice-to-beat disadvantage going to the quarterfinals. They defeated the first seeded B-Meg Llamados in two games to advance to the semifinals. In the next round, they faced the fifth-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Powerade won in seven games, making them the first team in PBA history to become the lowest seeded team to advance to the finals.

Series summary

Game 1

In the first game, which is held at Digos, Davao del Sur, Talk 'N Text capitalized on the absence of Powerade's top pick rookie JV Casio, due to an injured knee, and limiting Gary David to only 19 points (his lowest scoring output in the playoffs) to get the first win of the series. The Tropang Texters led Powerade by as much as 20 points mostly in the second half.

Game 2

Talk 'N Text was in control most of the game and was leading Powerade by 12 points going into the fourth quarter. The Tigers, led by Doug Kramer sparked a 13–2 run, which pushed Powerade to within one point, 94–93 with 2:54 remaining in the game. After executing empty possessions, Larry Fonacier was able to score a layup from a broken play that gave the Tropang Texters with 2:08 remaining. Jimmy Alapag sealed any chance for a Powerade comeback with a 28-foot three point jumper.

Game 3

With 3.3 seconds left in the game, and leading the game 121–118, Talk 'N Text had the possession and a chance to close the game. Ranidel de Ocampo miscalculated the lead pass to teammate Larry Fonacier, who was heavily defended by Gary David. JV Casio was able to pick up the loose ball then sank a three-point shot to send the game into overtime. During the overtime period, De Ocampo was able to make up his mistake in regulation, scoring the crucial shots in overtime, sealing the game and a commanding 3–0 lead in the finals series.

Earlier in the game, De Ocampo was slapped with a flagrant foul (penalty 1) after he swung an elbow to Sean Anthony after securing a rebound. Anthony's eyebrow needed 10 stitches to stop the bloody gash. De Ocampo was fined P20,000 by the commissioner's office after the incident.

Game 4

Before Game 4 started, Powerade's Gary David was named Best Player of the Conference after receiving 1268 value points against his closest contender Arwind Santos with 1159.

Scoring with a game-high 35 points, Gary David led Powerade to its first win in the series, amid costly miscues at the last minutes of the game, preventing a potential Talk 'N Text sweep.

Game 5

Talk 'N Text led most of the game, leading with as much as 23 points (40–17) and prevented any scoring surge from Powerade. The Tropang Texters was able to secure the series clinching game, successfully defending the Philippine Cup, making them the first team in league history to win back-to-back All-Filipino championships after 27 years. The last team doing that feat was the Great Taste Coffee Makers in 1984 and 1985.

Ryan Reyes also made history by making 10 steals and breaking the all-time PBA record for most steals made in a single game.

After the game, Larry Fonacier was awarded as the finals Most Valuable Player by the PBA Press Corps.

Rosters

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Broadcast notes

References

References

1. (January 29, 2012). "Mighty Talk 'N Text defeats gallant Powerade to retain Philippine Cup". InterAKTV.
2. (January 29, 2012). "TALK 'N TEXT KEEPS PHILIPPINE CUP CROWN". PBA.ph.
3. (December 14, 2011). "B-MEG, TNT look to advance to semis with quarterfinal wins". InterAKTV.
4. (December 14, 2011). "Castro scores game-winner versus Barako to send Talk 'N Text to PBA semis". InterAKTV.
5. Bolante, Mikkel. (January 5, 2012). "Petron, Talk 'N Text share history, animosity". InterAKTV.
6. (January 18, 2012). "Talk 'N Text outlasts Petron to complete monumental comeback". InterAKTV.
7. (December 18, 2011). "David goes supernova as Powerade knocks out top seed B-MEG". InterAKTV.
8. [http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/gary-david-a-king-still-seeking-his-1st-crown Gary David a king still seeking his 1st crown] {{Webarchive. link. (January 24, 2012 , Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV, January 22, 2012)
9. (January 20, 2012). "Talk 'N Text draws first blood vs short-handed Powerade". InterAKTV.
10. (January 20, 2012). "Hot shooting tows Talk 'N Text to 116–100 win over Powerade". GMA News Online.
11. (January 23, 2012). "TALK 'N TEXT IN COMMAND, 2–0". PBA.ph.
12. (January 23, 2012). "Alapag shoots Talk 'N Text to 2–0 finals edge over Powerade". InterAKTV.
13. Bolante, Mikkel. (January 26, 2012). "Breaking down Casio's miracle shot". InterAKTV.
14. (January 25, 2012). "DE OCAMPO TURNS FROM GOAT TO HERO AS TNT BUILDS 3–0 LEAD". PBA.ph.
15. Belen, Reynaldo. (January 24, 2012). "De Ocampo summoned for flagrant foul". InterAKTV.
16. (January 27, 2012). "KING TIGER GARY DAVID NAMED CONFERENCE MVP". PBA.ph.
17. (January 27, 2012). "Cinderella Powerade extends curfew with Game Four win over Talk 'N Text". InterAKTV.
18. Belen, Reynaldo. (January 29, 2012). "For Chot Reyes, back-to-back Philippine Cup victories as sweet as Grand Slam". InterAKTV.
19. (January 30, 2012). "FONACIER FILLED BIG SHOES FOR TEXTERS FROM START TO FINISH". PBA.ph.