2011-12 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals

Game 1: B-Meg Llamados won 88-82

Game 2: Talk N Text won 104-102

Game 3: B-Meg Llamados won 91-87

Game 4: Talk N Text won 100-85

Game 5: B-Meg Llamados won 82-66

Game 6: Talk N Text won 92-82

Game 7: B-Meg Llamados won 90-84

B-Meg Llamados win 4-3

MANILA, Philippines (PBA Commissioner’s Cup): Import Denzel Bowles proved to be an unstoppable force in the lane as he towed the B–Meg Derby Ace Llamados to a 90-84 overtime win against the defending champions Talk N Text in Game 7 of the 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

 “I’m speechless, I’m so speechless. I’m just so proud of my team,” said Bowles. “I’m so glad I came to B-MEG planet...(and) won my first championship, with this team.”

 B-Meg coach Tim Cone heaped praises on Bowles for making it happen.

“He showed his ability to take punishment and have the legs to take jump shots and make them. He was phenomenal,” said Cone.

Bowles converted two free-throws with 1.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter bringing back the Llamados from the brink of defeat tying the score at 76 at the end of the regulation time and then dominated the Overtime to finish with a PBA career-best 39 points, 21 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal.

“The first one, I had a doubt. The second one, I could feel it going in,” said Bowles, who scored all his team’s last 16 points during the fourth quarter, about the all-important free-throws.

“I didn’t want to miss it. I didn’t want to mess up the game. That’s big and I overcame that,” added the 23-year-old after paving the way for his team’s ninth championship overall, tying Toyota at fourth in the all-time ladder behind San Miguel/Petron (19) and Crispa and Alaska with 13 each.

For a moment, it seemed as if the Texters were poised to take the crown and keep their bid for a grand slam this season alive as they went ahead, 69-60, midway through the fourth period.

Alapag, the reigning MVP, woke up from the doldrums and finished with a team-high 29 points.

But then they hadn’t prepared for the Bowles backlash.

“It looked that we lost that game so many times. I had no idea what happened. We won the game and it was really amazing,” said Cone in his first year with the Llamados after notching his 14th title overall.

“I don’t feel deserving but I take it. We’re very fortunate to be here so quickly,” said Cone, who is now one title short of the all-time best record of legendary coach Baby Dalupan (15 with Crispa, Presto and Purefoods).

FIBA Asia

Photo courtesy: PBA