Incredi-Bull

Red Bull broke a see-sawing trend in the series through sheer heart and poise and reduced Talk N Text’s bid to smithereens with a stirring 67-60 win last night to retain the title in the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.

The Thunder got off to a big start and wavered in the third quarter, but roared off again in the fourth and final canto, completing back-to-back wins to duplicate their conquest of the San Miguel Beermen in this mid-season tourney last year.

The Photokina franchise had never tasted the lead in the classic series until it carried over the momentum of its 86-78 victory in Game Six into the deciding Game Seven for the close, dramatic win.

And despite the strong start, Red Bull’s bid actually hung in the balance until Jimwell Torion banged a booming three-pointer in the final 1:30 of play, giving the Thunder a 66-60 cushion.

That practically sealed the win and the crown for Red Bull which figured in a series of changing of fortunes with Talk N Text.

Talk N Text won Game One at 102-100, Game Three at 80-71 and Game Five at 77-55, while Red Bull claimed Game Two at 96-86, Game Four at 89-81 and Game Six, 86-78.

"We’re tired, drained and fatigued but I really thought if we could play one more good game, the cycle would be broken sometime. Good thing for us, it happened tonight," said a jubilant coach Yeng Guaio amidst a wild celebration by the Thunder and their fans on the court and at the gallery.

"But I have to commend Talk N Text. They didn’t give us just 40 minutes of hell, they gave us seven days of hell. They’re so relentless, only the championship experience carried us through," added Guiao.

Red Bull enjoyed three 10-point spreads early on with Talk N’ Text starting listlessly but the Thunder missed three free throws in the closing minutes of the second quarter to settle for a 33-27 cushion at halftime.

The Phone Pals were so erratic at the start Bayno utilized eight men in the first four minutes of the contest. By the end of the first quarter, 10 Pals had seen action in the game.

Talk N’ Text trailed by eight, 9-17, after the first quarter before getting its rhythm, engaging Red Bull in a fierce duel in the second period. The Phone Pals actually outscored the Thunder, 18-16, in the second quarter.

Picking up from where they left off in Game Six, the Thunder, behind the same starting five of Julius Nwoso, Sean Lampley, Davonn Harp, Edmund Reyes and Anton Viloria, broke away early 17-7.

Both teams actually shot poorly in the first half with Red Bull hitting at a 34-percent clip while Talk N’ Text shooting 31 percent.

As in the previous game, the Thunder imposed their strength early in the paint, hauling down 27 rebounds as against the Pals’ 18.