The Tropang Texters overcame a 12-point first quarter deficit with a big scoring run in the middle two quarters to whip the Express, 118-104, and clinched a second straight Finals stint in the league on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Paul Harris topscored for 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Jimmy Alapag had 27 and Larry Fonacier had 19 as the three stepped up the gas beginning the second quarter when Talk `N Text erased a 21-33 deficit and took a 51-44 lead at the half.

A 15-3 run to start the third then allowed the telecommunications franchise to have a commanding 66-47 edge en route to a sweep of the Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinals series.

Adding the nine straight wins they had in the eliminations to finish as the top seed of the tournament, the Tropang Texters have now won 12 consecutive games going into the best-of-seven title series

The team also has a chance to become the first back-to-back champion in the league in the last six years since Ginebra bagged the transition Fiesta Conference tournament and the succeeding Philippine Cup in 2005.

“We have an expression in our team, which is don’t exhale,’" said coach Chot Reyes, himself seeking to give Talk ‘N Text its fourth championship and seventh title in his 12th Finals appearance.

“We took a big, deep breath in this series. Against Air21, I told the players to keep on pushing, keep on pushing until the final buzzer. “We are just one step closer to our goal. We still need four games to win the championship, and we will take another big deep breath."

The Express were led by the 28 of Wynne Arboleda, while Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle added 23 and 21, respectively.

But the ball club, which pulled off an upset of the Alaska Aces in the quarterfinals, could not get enough support from import Alpha Bangura, who was held down to just eight points and two rebounds.

The Express actually controlled the first 12 minutes of play and enjoyed their biggest lead of the game at 33-21 on a three-pointer by big man Jay-R Reyes.

But behind the hot hands of Fonacier, who went 4-of-5 from three-point region, the Tropang Texters finally took the upper hand, 42-38, before settling for a seven-point halftime lead.

They then ripped the game apart in the second half behind that huge telling run, and then padding the lead to a sizeable 74-58, before holding off their foes down the stretch after the Express cut the deficit to within 80-93. - RCJ, GMA News