MANILA, 21 July 2007 — Alaska coach Tim Cone said at the start that it would be a failure for him and his Aces not to win the PBA Fiesta Cup.

And the Aces practically bled to make a prophet out of Cone.

In a classic Game 7 played before a virtual sea of humanity, the Aces hung tough in the stretch to hammer out a 99-96 decision of Talk ‘N Text that gave Alaska its first title in seven years at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Willie Miller was again big in winning time, drilling a layup and botching up a potential game-tying play on the other end as the Aces broke the game’s last tie at 94 for a four-point lead that proved enough.

This, even as Alaska missed a total of five charities inside the final 28 seconds.

“The boys just got pretty excited, I guess,” Cone, soaked in bubbly and tears welling in his eyes, said later on. “We worked hard for this and it’s so sweet. We stayed together (for the entire series) and I think that was the key.” The 6-foot Miller, who won the season MVP three games earlier, finished with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, the biggest coming when he stripped Mac Cardona of possession which led to a Rosell Ellis basket for 98- 94 with 44.5 left.

And then anxiety stepped in.

Talk ‘N Text import JJ Sullinger muffed a three-pointer in the Phone Pals’ next offensive and they had to put any Alaska player on the line in the ensuing play to get the ball back.

It seemed that the ploy worked, as Miller, later on named the Finals MVP, muffed two, Reynel Hugnatan another pair which sandwiched a Jay Washington followup to make it 98-96 with still 15.4 to go.

Cardona then drove to the basket but elected to pop a pass out to Donbel Belano for three-pointer from deep right corner which was way long.

Hugnatan snared the rebound and was again sent to the line with a second to go.

Hugnatan, easily a crucial factor in the series, missed the first but made the second and Sullinger’s desperation heave to send the game into overtime rattled out at the buzzer, igniting a boisterous celebration in the stands.

It was the first championship in seven years and a total of 17 conferences for the Aces, who established a dynasty in the 1990s with 10 titles only to break up the core of the Grand Slam team of 1996 after winning the All-Filipino in 2000.

“A lot of people actually doubted us whether we can win (a championship) again after the dynasty,” Cone added.

“We played out hearts out tonight and I am very proud of what we have achieved.

“This is easily one of the sweetest titles we have ever won. I won’t forget this.” The 4-3 series win by the Aces came after Alaska won the last two games of the series, which will go down in league annals as one of the closest if not the most even matchup ever.

And it will prove to be a bitter pill to swallow for the Phone Pals, who had a 3-2 series lead, a 12-point lead after the first quarter of Game 6 and a ninepoint spread early in last night’s second period.

“We have nothing to be ashamed of,” Talk’NText coach Derrick Pumaren said inside the gloomy locker room by the Phone Pals. “We played our guts out there and it just happened to be their night.” Ellis led the Aces with 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine feeds to win his first title.

Sullinger matched Ellis’ offensive production but was clearly outplayed in the stretch. Cardona added 29 for the Phone Pals.