It was the turn of Petron Blaze to withstand a late game run by Talk ‘N Text.

Danny Ildefonso buried an important jumper from deep in the left corner that gave the Boosters the breathing space they needed to preserve a 91-89 win in Game Two of their best-of-seven semifinal series against the Tropang Texters in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Saturday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Ildefonso’s basket with 14.8 seconds left in the game came after the Tropang Texters unloaded a 10-1 blast to threaten cut the lead to a single point, 87-86.

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) has identified the prime suspect in the shooting of Talk ‘N Text center Ali Peek.

A certain Edgar Vite from Nueva Ecija has been identified by witnesses as the assailant in the shooting of Peek last November 7 at the parking lot of the RFM Sports Center in Pioneer in Mandaluyong City.

CIDG confirmed that Vite is the person on the composite sketch released by the police through a text from a concerned citizen cross-referenced with a driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office.\

GINEBRA has some very valid reasons why it is taking its sweet time looking for a reinforcement for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup that starts on Feb. 10.

The mid-season tourney’s short format, coupled with the Kings’ need for another scoring option, compels them to take extra care in coming up with their choice from a narrowed-down list of possible import.

"We start practicing Jan. 11, so our import should be here by then," coach Siot Tanquingcen told Malaya Business Insight yesterday.

The Ginebra Team management will invest on sending Coach Siot Tanquincen to the United States so that he will be able to scout some of their import prospects for the upcoming PBA Season 37 Commissioner's Cup. 

Mr. Noli Eala Tweeted that Coach Siot will be flying to the United States on January 9, 2012 to attend the NBA D-League Showcase. He will watch some of their importprospects in the said event.

Talk 'N Text begins its bid to earn a piece of PBA history when it takes on rival Petron in Game One of their best-of-seven semifinals series in the 37th Philippine Cup at the Astrodome.

The Tropang Texters seek to become the first team in the last 26 years to repeat as All-Filipino champions. But the act is easier said than done.

Although the defending champions Text already practiced in full force during the three-week holiday break—including Ali Peek and Ranidel De Ocampo—coach Chot Reyes said the Texters’ health issue remains his major concern.

Coming into Rain or Shine’s game Wednesday against Powerade, Paul Lee was shooting just 20.4% from the three-point area. But he shot 4-of-6 from the three-point line tonight en route to a career-high 25 points, leading the Elasto Painters to a come-from-behind victory against the Tigers and taking first blood in their best-of-seven semis matchup.

Rain or Shine exploded for 35 points in the third quarter to erase an 11-point halftime deficit and walk away with a 114-97 win over Powerade in Game One of the best-of-seven semifinal series of the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Rookie Paul Lee anchored the Elasto Painters’ sizzling second half as he unloaded 22 of his personal-high 25 points after the break to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Jeff Chan fired a team-high 27 points, one shy of matching his career-high to lead Rain or Shine, which trailed by as much as 15 points in the game.