Faced with another must-win game, Barangay Ginebra — as what it has been doing well in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup — again found ways to live on.

The Gin Kings won out in a mano-a-mano contest with Talk ‘N Text last night, carving out a 104-101 win to take their Final Four series with the gutsy Tropang Texters to a deciding Game 5 before an animated, boisterous Araneta Coliseum crowd.

Vernon Macklin – unorthodox offensively that he is – dropped a PBA career-high 37 points, including the go-ahead throw-down with 54.4 seconds left that gave the Gin Kings a 101-99 lead and an eventual 2-2 tie.

“I really can’t say anything, the boys simply did not quit,” Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua said. “This win is for my players.” The rubber match is scheduled tomorrow also at the historic Cubao arena, and Ginebra will try to go 4-of-4 in KO matches this tournament counting the two the Kings hurdled against No. 2 Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals.

Ginebra gutted out the victory despite a great offensive display coming from Talk ‘N Text import Tony Mitchell, who torched the Kings with 45 points including a running jumper off the glass that made it 97-95 heading into the final 3:55.

But Talk ‘N Text fell into a cold spell from there as Mitchell was held without a field goal the rest of the way and the Tropang Texters to a total of just four points.

The game was tied for the last time at 99 after two Mitchell free throws with 67 seconds remaining off the final foul of Chris Ellis before Macklin shoved the Kings ahead for good with that slam dunk coming off a brilliant LA Tenorio outlet.

Talk ‘N Text then had two possessions after that, but Mitchell missed a running jumper off the glass, leaving the Texters with no choice but to foul Tenorio for two free throws.

Tenorio, who finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, calmly made both charities and the crowd of 14,411 erupted into a wild celebration in the stands, something the record crowd on Wednesday couldn’t do in a lopsided Game 3 loss.

Mitchell missed his last four shots, and six of his last seven overall. Still, it was a great game for him considering that he finished with a 13-of-22 clip from two-point zone and 19-of-25 from the stripe.

Mitchell, who came in to replace the ineffective 7-foot Jerome Jordan, did have eight turnovers and was 0-of-8 from the three-point line.

It was a very physical game with Chua accusing the Texters of throwing cheap shots just to get Macklin out of rhythm.

“The referees should call some of the cheap shots (in Game 5),” Chua said. “We’re going to play hard, but we won’t hurt anyone with career-ending shots. Ranidel (De Ocampo) hit Macklin in the groin and Ryan Reyes punched him twice.” Jay-Jay Helterbrand, the former MVP who is enjoying a rejuvenation of sorts in these playoffs, scored 17 points with Ellis finishing with 13 and Kerby Raymundo contributing 12.

Ranidel de Ocampo was the only Talk ‘N Text local that finished with twin digits, shooting 12 as most of the people who helped the Texters win Game 3 pulling away were held to the minimum.

Larry Fonacier, who had 20 points on Wednesday, had just four points and the Texters were on the verge of being blown off the court in the third quarter had Macklin not been forced to ride the bench because of a flagrant foul 1 call on De Ocampo.

Chua quoted Macklin as saying that “he (De Ocampo) can’t hit my nuts,” making Macklin react by giving De Ocampo a hard foul.

The three minutes that Macklin sat out had the Texters coming back from a 64-73 deficit through the efforts of Harvey Carey, who scored all seven of his points in the third period, which ended in an 81-all tie.