Danny Ildefonso, a veteran of several championship wars, hit a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper that lifted the Petron Blaze Boosters to a stunning 89-88 win over the heavily favored Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in Game 1 of the Best-of-7 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
Pandemonium broke just after the 14-year veteran Ildefonso hit the game-winning shot over the outstretched arms of Talk ‘N Text’sAli Peek.
The big-time shot may have just changed the complexion of the series.
With several key players out due to various injuries, the Boosters are the heavy underdogs in the series and it showed early in the game.
Displaying their vaunted offensive machinery, the grand slam-seeking Texters built leads of as many of 16 points and nursed sizable leads for most part of the fourth.
Petron managed to stay within striking distance and when opportunity presented itself, the Boosters were quick to grab it.
Import Anthony Grundy hit two free throws that brought the Boosters to within 85-86 left with 22.7 seconds left.
In Talk ‘N Text’s possession, Arwind Santos and Ildefonso harassed Larry Fonacier, who lost the ball to Ildefonso, who converted a break-away layup to put the Boosters in front, 87-86, with 17 tick left.
The Texters recoveredwith Ryan Reyes hitting a basket off a Jimmy Alapag pass for a 88-87 lead with 10.1 seconds to go.
It turned out that Ildefonso was even more composed, receiving a pass from Grundy and letting loose the biggest shot of the night.