Ildefonso buzzer-beater gives Petron 1-0 lead over Talk 'N Text

Danny Ildefonso turned back the hands of time and anchored a huge Petron comeback from the depths of defeat, hammering out a gripping 89-88 win over heavily-favored Talk `N Text to steal Game 1 of the PBA Governors Cup Finals Sunday night before a stunned crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. Ildefonso, the 13-year veteran and league two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) scored the Boosters' last four points, none more important than the game-winning shot at the buzzer that enabled the team to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven title series. Game 2 of the Finals will be on Wednesday in Tubod, Lanao del Sur. Ildefonso finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. His crucial steal that led to a breakaway lay up with 17 seconds left in the tightly-fought match suddenly shoved the Boosters in front, 87-86, after trailing by as much as 75-84 in the final 5:11. But the Tropang Texters regained the upperhand seven seconds later as Jimmy Alapag drove to the basket setting up an open Ryan Reyes for an easy basket, 88-87. The celebration proved to be short lived for the Grand Slam-seeking franchise as Ildefonso, receiving the pass from import Anthony Grundy with three seconds to go, nailed a soft jumper from 12-feet for the win. “God is good. Yung last shot, si God `yun, hindi ako," said Ildefonso of his game-winning basket amidst pandemonium inside the Big Dome. “Nagamit ni Danny I. ang experience niya," said Petron coach Ato Agustin after the tense game. “Tingin nila 4-0 ang series, pero ngayon 1-0 na kami. We’ll see. Good match-up kami sa Talk ‘N Text." Sunday Salvacion led Petron with 19 points, while Grundy added 17 and 13 rebounds. Alapag topscored for Talk `N Text with 18 markers, but a big letdown was import Scottie Reynolds, who finished with only four points. A strong finishing kick ending the first half allowed the Boosters to rally back from as much as a 16-point deficit to threaten at 53-51 on a free throw by Arwind Santos with 27 seconds left before the half. The Tropang Texters took with them a 55-51 lead at the break. Back-to-back three-pointers by Salvacion capped a 12-0 run by Petron that erased a 36-52 deficit to just two. A Kelly Williams lay up earlier made possible that 16-point Talk `N Text spread at the 4:47 mark of the second quarter. Both teams matched each other power for power in the first 12 minutes, resulting in a high-scoring first quarter which saw the Tropang Texters on top, 40-32. -- OMG, GMA News The scores: 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. Quarterscores: 32-40, 51-55, 67-74, 89-88