Fonacier captures Finals MVP diadem

FOR all the depth of the roster of the back-to-back PBA Philippine Cup champions, Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, the choice for Most Valuable Player in the finals was an easy one to make as wingman Larry Fonacier more than earned the citation in helping anchor an injury-riddled TnT squad to a second straight all-Filipino title.

The Tropang Texters were the first team to defend a Philippine Cup title in 27 years.

Fonacier averaged 16.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in the series while often drawing Gary David as his defensive assignment. The PBA’s “Babyfaced Assassin” scored at least 20 points in Games Three and Four and despite David’s gaudy statline in those games, Fonacier’s defense on the Powerade scoring machine proved excellent.

Fonacier though, is no stranger to pressure-packed situations as in his rookie year, he helped his team make back-to-back finals appearances, winning the 2005-2006 Fiesta Conference with the Red Bull Barako.

He also made multiple trips to the finals with the Alaska Aces. This was his ninth trip to PBA finals. He had two with Red Bull, three with Alaska and four with Talk ‘N Text.

Also in the UAAP, he won the finals MVP award when he helped lead the Ateneo Blue Eagles to the 2002 title. He memorably saved Game One when he blocked two consecutive attempts by rival La Salle’s Mac Cardona in the dying seconds of the game. Fonacier then posted 25 points in a Game Two loss, before the Blue Eagles sealed the series in Game Three where Fonacier scored six points despite a bout with food poisoning. Correspondent Jonas Panerio