MANILA: Back to where it started.

Showing great poise and character, Talk ‘N Text last night regrouped after nearly flubbing a 19-point third quarter lead to post a 99-94 victory over Alaska and forge a do-or-die Game 7 for the Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ali Peek, in his finest all-around game this season, hit some clutch baskets in the stretch and finished with personal season-best marks of 17 points and 16 rebounds as the Tropang Texters kept their chance of winning just the franchise’s second title.

Mac Cardona was also big in the fourth period and Jimmy Alapag stood tallest in the third, presiding upon the Talk ‘N Text breakaway that had the Texters taking leads of as many as 78-59.

And coach Chot Reyes was very prepared not to get his team into a state of complacency when he talked after the big win.

“We came into this game prepared to play 96 minutes,” Reyes said. “The first half (last night’s game) is over. We now have to figure out how to come out strong for the last 48 minutes (Game 7 on Wednesday).”

Interestingly, Talk ‘N Text’s victory made it sure that for the fourth straight tournament, the championship will be decided on a Game 7. Incidentally, that string was touched off by Alaska ‘s 4-3 victory over this Talk ‘N Text crew in the 2007 Fiesta Cup title series.

And what a Game 7 it could turn out to be, especially after Alaska coach Tim Cone threw caution to the wind on hurting Cardona should the Talk ‘N Text swingman continue to play as arrogant as he had in the series.

“The next time he (Cardona) taunts our players, he is going to hit his head on the floor,” Cone, usually very cool, said. “He’s done it four times in this series and he has only been warned once. That starts fights.

That play gave the Texters a 94-87 lead heading into the final 1:36, and it stuck in Cone’s mind not just because it was crucial, but because of how Cardona behaved and handled himself in the celebration.

“Either the referees get more attentive, or it’s going to be ugly out there.” After he cooled down, though, Cone gave credit to where it was due.

“Ali (Peek) is very capable of coming up with big games,” Cone said of his former player, who hit a jumper from the keyhole area with the shotclock winding down for 96-89 with 52.1 seconds left before adding a free throw with 24 ticks to go for 97-92.

The 5-foot-8 Alapag scored all of his eight third quarter points on a string as the Texters dropped a 17-7 run at the halfway point of the quarter to take that 19-point lead from being just 61-52 up.

Alapag had back-to-back triples and two free throws inside that spurt, which gave most in the 13,000-plus crowd the impression that the Texters were going to wrap this one up early.