By Rey Joble

SAN Miguel Beer was hoping for a Sunday miracle to survive in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

But Mac Cardona and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters didn?t want to wait too long to fulfill a vow by their coach Chot Reyes.

Cardona exploded for 34 points, built around seven triples, and the Tropang Texters endured a gutsy San Miguel Beermen in overtime, 116-115, in Game 6 of their best-of-seven semis series at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Tropang Texters thus became the first team in the tournament to barge to the finals, but not after a grueling six-game series that could have gone either way. It will be the second finals appearance in the past five conferences and the first win of Talk N Text over San Miguel Beer in four best-of-seven series.

The Texters were the losing finalist against the Alaska Aces in the 2006-2007 Fiesta Conference, a team which they were hoping to face in a bid to settle an old score.

Obviously, the happiest man in the Tropang Texters? camp was Reyes, who guaranteed he will bring this team to the finals within a year.

?It was exactly a year ago, Jan. 25, 2008, when Ricky Vargas and Manny Pangilinan talked to me about coaching the team. I told them, give me a year and I will bring the team to the finals,? said Reyes.

But Reyes has Cardona to thank for.

The Beermen even led for the last time, 115-113, on a Washington putback, 2:03 left in overtime, but a triple by Cardona?his seventh in the game?restored the lead back to the Tropang Texters.