Post-Game 1 press con of Petron's Ato Agustin and Danny Ildefonso

What a finish to Game 1 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals between Petron Blaze and Talk 'n Text.  Here's the vid of the post-match press con with Petron's Ato Agustin and Danny Ildefonso.

Ildefonso gives Petron a boost in stirring game one win over TNT

by rick olivares

You know the saying be careful what you wish for?

When Talk ‘N Text “lost” to Petron Blaze 98-83 last Friday, some quarters felt that the grand slam seeking team preferred to face the depleted team instead of another squad.

But maybe more ominously, depleted or not, the Tropang Texters have not beaten Petron in this Governors’ Cup. And maybe the Friday thrashing gave Petron all the gumption they needed to upend TNT at least for game one.

With 10.1 seconds left in the game and TNT up 88-87 following an undergoal stab by Ryan Reyes off a nifty drive and dish by Jimmy Alapag, Petron Boosters import Anthony Grundy, finished off a playoff masterpiece when he notched a triple double (17 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists).

Drawing Reyes above the three-point arc, Grundy made his move with six seconds left. As the defense adjusted to prevent the drive, Grundy found an open Danny Ildefonso on the wing. With Tropang Texter forward-center Ali Peek rushing out a second too late on the switch, Ildefonso drained the jumper just as the end game buzzer sounded giving Petron an incredible one-game lead over the fancied Manuel V. Pangilinan franchise.

Ildefonso, a deeply religious man, paid tribute to the Man Above for answering his prayer. “Siya na nag-shoot noon,” said the grateful Petron center who is in the twilight of his long and illustrious career.

For about a half, it looked like the real Talk ‘N Text had showed up as they were threatening to blow Petron off the court. But since this PBA season, Petron, even in their previous incarnation as San Miguel Beer oft mounted stirring comebacks from huge deficits that sometimes went a high as 20-plus points. And so 52-36 second quarter lead seemed manageable especially with an eternity of hoops to be played.

Somehow, a hard foul by Paolo Hubalde on TNT import Scottie Reynolds galvanized Petron. Reynolds hit one free throw and on the next possession, TNT “retaliated” with an inane foul by the seldom-used Mark Yee on Boosters import Anthony Grundy.

As Grundy posted up Yee, the TNT forward thrust his fingers at least twice into the American’s buttocks, an act that was eventually whistled a foul by the referee and which drew howls of derision and laughter by the Sunday evening crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The American made both free throws and back-to-back treys by Sunday Salvacion saw Petron nipping at TNT’s heels as they went into the half with a 55-51 deficit. “Definitely manageable,” quipped Boosters point guard Alex Cabagnot at the half. “We’re going to show that even if we’re missing some key players we’re not going to go down easy. We’re here to win.”

With 17.4 seconds left, and Talk ‘N Text on down by a point 86-87 after two Grundy free throws, Ildefonso and conference MVP-candidate Arwind Santos double-teamed Tropang Texter Larry Fonacier who took the inbound pass just at the halfcourt line.

Ildefonso poked the ball away even as Santos held back Fonacier. The 13-year PBA veteran scooted towards Petron’s side of the court for an uncontested layup.

The Pangasinan native capped his endgame heroics by canning his first ever game winning shot that greatly boosted the San Miguel franchise’s confidence as they try to grab a title and prevent the Chot Reyes-mentored TNT from achieving the pro league’s fifth grand slam (after two by Crispa and one each from San Miguel and Alaska).

“Okay lang na underdog kami,” said Ildefonso. “Mas gusto namin ganun.”

Added an elated Agustin who couldn’t resist a subtle dig at TNT, “Sasabihin nila na pinagbigyan kami. Sana lagi kaming pagbigyan.”

Petron outrebounded the taller Tropang Texters 47-45 and outassisted them 26-22. Agustin’s team also stole the leather 13 times to the five of TNT. “Puso talaga,” added Ildefonso outside the team locker room.

Game Two will be played out of town at the Civic Center Gym in Tubod, Lanao del Sur on Wednesday giving Agustin some cause for concern. “Hindi pa kami nananalo sa out of town games this year. Pero sige lang. Marami rin naman nagsabi na hindi kami mananalo sa seryang ito. Sweep pa nga raw.”

Petron 89 – Salvacion 19, Grundy 17, Ildefonso 13, Santos 12, Miranda 12, Cabagnot 9, Pennisi 5, Duncil 2, Baclao 0, Hubalde 0.

Talk N Text 88 – Alapag 18, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 13, Williams 10, Reyes 8, Castro 7, Carey 6, Peek 6, Reynolds 4, Yee 0, Dillinger 0, Aban 0.