He would not be a two-time MVP for nothing as Danny Ildefonso put in one big blazing performance last night to lead Petron Blaze to an 85-82 Game 4 victory against Talk ‘N Text in their best-of-seven semifinals and moved closer to the finals in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Bucking a slight tear in his right leg muscle, Ildefonso scored 22 points, 16 of them in the second half including a jumper with 55.7 seconds left that put Petron on top at 83-82.

Petron also got a lift from Chris Lutz and Joseph Yeo, each delivering 13 points for the team with Lutz coolly converting two free throws in the last 9.3 seconds.

Talk ‘N Text’s attempt to send the game into overtime fell on the wayside as Ranidel Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag missed from the three-point arc as the final buzzer sounded.

Coach Ato Agustin was all praises for his wards, whom he said showed poise and composure at crunch time.

Not one to easily give up, though things look bleak for TNT right now, coach Chot Reyes told reporters that the series is closer than the score and that there is still hope for his team.*NAB

The scores:

PETRON 85 - Ildefonso 22, Lutz 13, Yeo 13, Cabagnot 8, Santos 7, Reyes 6, Sharma 6, Miranda 5,Tugade 3, Baclao 2.

TALK N' TEXT 82 - Reyes 17, De Ocampo 15, Castro 13, Dillinger 9, Peek 9, Fonacier 6, Williams 5,

Carey 4, Alapag 3, Aguilar 1. (Quarters: 22-23, 38-44, 60-66, 85-82)

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