TnT fiery run in OT leaves Petron empty

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:45 p.m. – Air21 vs Globalport

8 p.m. – Alaska vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text overhauled a six-point deficit in the last 37 seconds of regulation then shut down Petron Blaze in overtime, pulling off an amazing 93-85 victory to stay among the frontrunners in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Donnell Harvey delivered a PBA career-high 38 points and the Talk n Text locals took over in the crunch, carving out a win that coach Norman Black considered among his best in the league.

“It’s one of the best wins I’ve ever had in the PBA for couples of reasons. One is that we want to stay ahead in the standings. Second, we need a confidence-booster as we’re struggling in the conference,” said Black whose chargers have been on an up-and-down ride, just going above the .500 mark again at 5-4.

“We need this win badly. We won the all-Filipino conference but it seems years and years ago at this point,” Black also said.

Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams came through with clutch baskets as the Tropang Texters made it 9-0 over the Boosters since staring at a 1-3 deficit versus the same opponents in the Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals last year.

Petron blew away what had looked like a won ball game on three muffed charities in the last 37 seconds of regulation and failed to recover in extra time, going scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting and three turnovers, becoming the first team in memory to have failed to score a single basket in overtime.

The loss relegated the Boosters to joint second with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 6-3.

Vernon Macklin piled up 23 points despite 5-of-15 free throws and added 22 rebounds while Mark Caguioa contributed 21 points before limping out with two minutes left to play as Barangay Ginebra stretched its streak to three games and forced a four-way logjam at fifth with an 84-81 win over Meralco in the nightcap.

Ginebra built a huge lead early, enough to fend off Meralco’s endgame charge as the Kings tied the Bolts, the Air21 Express and the San Mig Coffee Mixers at 4-5.