Talk ‘N Text managed to squeak past Coca Cola, 98-97, after squandering an 18-point lead at the start of the 2008-09 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Saturday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters took advantage of the Tiger’s crucial mistake in the closing seconds of the game after Coca Cola was penalized for calling an excessive full timeout.

Talk ‘N Text guard Jimmy Alapag sank the game-winning free throw with 8.6 ticks left.

Coke still had a chance to complete the rally but Alex Cabagnot's lay-up failed to hit the mark. Asi Taulava collared the offensive board but his putback was nullified as it came right after the buzzer.

"It's a gutsy, gritty win for us," said Talk 'N Text head coach Chot Reyes, who missed the services of Ali Peek in the opening game due to a tear in his right calf muscle.

"At least the monkey was now off our backs as we finally beat Coke with Asi around," added Reyes, whose team failed to beat the Tigers last season when the six-foot-nine Taulava was traded to Coke in the midseason.

Renren Ritualo led all scorers with 24 points, 18 came in the second period where Tropang Texters built a 60-42 advantage and appeared to break the game wide open.

The Tigers, however, slowly got back in the game through its defense and even took a 95-94 lead on Ronjay Buenafe's three-pointer with 49.7 seconds remaining.

Ritualo tried to counter with his own triple but he misfired in the ensuing play. TNT center Yancy de Ocampo collared the offensive rebound and swished a three-pointer to regain the lead, 97-95, 39 ticks left.

Cabagnot knotted the score with a pair of free throws off a foul by rookie Rob Reyes, 97-all.

Coke, which trailed most of the way, got a shot to pull off the upset when TNT's Mark Cardona lost the ball and Taulava secured the leather and called a timeout.

But the team was not aware that it had only a 30-second timeout left and according to rules, a timeout that is asked at the other end of the court would be an automatic full timeout.

It was indeed a sorry loss for the Tigers, who fought back gallantly against the squad that is armed with three promising rookies in Jared Dillinger, Jayson Castro and Rob Reyes.

"My rookies played well tonight," said Reyes, who also drew 21 points from Cardona. "This is just our first game of a long season but for sure they will play major roles in our campaign."

Dillinger had the most impressive debut among the three as the No. 2 overall pick in the draft finished with 15 points but he was slowed down by cramps on both legs in the final canto.

Reyes, nephew of former PBA player Eric Reyes, had seven points and three blocks while Castro finished with five points and seven assists in his first game in the league.

Buenafe, who finished second to Ryan Reyes in the Rookie of the Year poll last season, paced Coke with 20 points. He was responsible for the comeback of the Tigers in the second half that fell short.

Belasco added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Coke while Cabagnot chipped in 17 points and seven assists. Taulava and Mark Telan combined for 26 points and 26 rerbounds for Coke, which manhandled Tropang Texters in the rebounding department, 57-42.

US Amabassador to the Philippines Kirstie Kenney tossed the ceremonial ball to officially start the 34th season of the league.

De Ocampo delivered the first basket of the season, a three-pointer at the right flank that gave the Tropang Texters an early 3-0 lead.

Quarter scores: 23-24, 60-47, 80-73, 98-97