MANILA: On the verge of being swept, Talk 'N Text coach Norman Black gambled for the first time and gave the Tropang Texters a new lease on life against San Mig Coffee.

Inserting two bench-warmers in the starting lineup and giving San Mig a look it has never seen in this playoff series, the Tropang Texters broke away in the second quarter to post a 112-86 win and cut down the Mixers’ PBA Governors’ Cup Final Four lead to 2-1 at the Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

Aaron Aban and Rob Reyes, who both have seen scant minutes the whole conference, also connected on their first field goal attempts to help jumpstart the Talk 'N Text juggernaut as the Tropang Texters averted a sweep and took this best-of-five series to the Game 4 Wednesday night.

“I was sticking to a 10-man rotation (in Games 1 and 2) that didn’t work out,” Black shot back when asked to explain the move. “I just gave everyone a chance to play, see what happened,”

“It was a decision that I came up with yesterday (Sunday) and fortunately for me tonight, everyone played well,” he continued. “They still have the advantage. Hopefully, we can win one more game and put pressure on them.”

Ranidel de Ocampo scattered 24 points and five others tossed in twin digits for Black, whose wards will have momentum in Game 4 on Wednesday night as they try to complete a rise from the grave only three teams have done before.

Talk 'N Text, interestingly enough, was the last team that blew a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series, as the Texters walked out of Game 4 and then was destroyed by Barangay Ginebra in the rubber match of the 2010 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.

The Texters wriggled out of a tight game in the second quarter, taking a 52-37 lead at the half and were never really threatened the rest of the way as Black continuously shuffled his players.

In fact, Black already was able to field a 15th man even before the first half ended, keeping his Aces fresh for the second half grind as Talk ‘N Text built leads of as large as 28 points.

“I have no idea of what I’ll be thinking (as a game plan for Game 4),” Black said if something unusual is again in the offing for Game 4. “We might try something else in the next game and hopefully, it will throw them off guard.”

PJ Simon scored 18 points and Joe Devance was the second – and last – Mixer in twin digits with 11.

Import Marqus Blakely never got in the groove and finished with just eight points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes, with Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca, two usual heavy contributors, combining for just 13.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine and Alaska break a 1-1 tie in their half of the Final Four, with the Elasto Painters hoping to take the momentum of a 99-87 Game 2 victory into the 8 p.m. contest on Tuesday.

Arizona Reid and Paul Lee will again carry the fight for the Elasto Painters, who will most likely miss the services of the injured Gabe Norwood for the second straight game.

Norwood watched Game 2 with his right foot in a cast after twisting his ankle so bad in a rebounds play early in the fourth quarter of Game 1.

“It gives us great confidence to beat Alaska without Gabe,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said on Sunday.