By Reuel Vidal

IT?S going to be a sprint to the finish as the Alaska Aces and the Tropang Texters, tied at 2-all, meet in Game 5 of the best-of-seven championship of the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup 7 p.m. today at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Aces won the first two games (102-95 on Jan. 28 and 100-91 on Jan. 30), but the Tropang Texters returned the favor with victories (92-73 on Feb. 1 and 100-98 on Feb. 4) in Games 3 and 4.

Alaska coach Tim Cone insists that everything is even and that neither team enjoys any kind of edge.

?It doesn?t really matter that they won the past two games,? said Cone. ?That doesn?t help them. It?s like it?s zero-zero. It?s now a best-of-three playoff with the team winning two games coming out champion.?

But an added concern for Cone is Alaska team captain Jeff Cariaso, who is a doubtful starter because of a pulled hamstring muscle.

Jimmy Alapag tallied a team-high 20 points to go with four rebounds and three assists to lead the Tropang Texters to victory.

But rather than pointing to a single player, TNT coach Chot Reyes said their victory was due to team effort especially on the defensive end.

?After trailing 0-2, we?ve gotten the series to where we want it,? said Reyes. ?We?ve made it a series again. Our defense is really keying our victories. In the last two games, we were able to play defense. I think that was the key.?

For Talk N Text, Mark Cardona added 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Harvey Carey had 17 points and nine rebounds. Ranidel Ocampo had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

For Alaska, Joe Devance scored a game-high 24 points and Willie Miller, crowned Best Player of the Conference before the game, added 21 points and eight assists.

But Alaska spitfire LA Tenorio only had eight points on a horrendous 3-of-16 field shooting, including 1-of-6 from 3-point distance.

Reynel Hugnatan and Tony de la Cruz also stepped up for the Aces with identical 11 points.

The Aces will be looking to win the game for assistant coach Joel Banal who turns 51 today.

The Tropang Texers will be looking to avenge their 2007 Fiesta Conference defeat at the hands of the very same Aces. The teams were also tied after two games. Talk N Text then took Game 5 but Alaska won the title by winning Games 6 and 7.