MANILA: In a battle between the two most dominant teams of the PBA Philippine Cup in the last four years, Talk 'N Text showed more resolve and pushed defending champion Purefoods to a place it doesn’t want to be in.

Ranidel de Ocampo and Jason Castro hit critical shots in overtime on Wednesday night and helped the Tropang Texters nip the Star Hotshots, 100-94, to formally claim a twice-to-beat privilege in the first phase of the quarterfinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Castro, who has been on an upsurge offensively, hit the first two baskets of overtime, and De Ocampo topped an 18-point night with a key jumper with under a minute left that sealed the Texters’ seventh win in 10 games.

The loss was the fifth also in 10 games for the Hotshots, who could advance to the first phase of the quarterfinals needing to beat their foe two straight times to stay alive.

Larry Fonacier sent the game into overtime by draining a layup off Rafi Reavis with six-tenths of a second remaining for an 88-all tie.

“It’s always tough beating Purefoods,” Talk 'N Text coach Jong Uichico said. “It’s always tough playing them because they are so used to playing in close games.

“I’m just happy with this win because we not only sealed a twice-to-beat privilege but also showed signs of improving as a team,” added the multi-titled coach, who took over from Norman Black at the start of the season.

Joe Devance paced the Hotshots with 22 points.

The top two teams after the single round eliminations will get automatic Final Four slots, with the eight next teams to play in the first phase of the quarterfinals where No. 3 clashes with No. 10; No. 4 with No. 9; No. 5 with No. 8 and No. 6 with No. 7 with team Nos. 3-6 needing to win just once to advance.

There will be a second phase which will have two KO games among the four survivors for the right to join the top two teams in the semifinals.

As things stand, league-leader San Miguel Beer, which is at 8-1, Alaska, which has an 8-2 card, and Rain or Shine, which is at 7-2, are already assured of twice-to-beat privileges and are still in the running for a top two slot with four playdates left in the elimination round.

Barangay Ginebra, Meralco and Globalport are still in the running like Purefoods for the remaining two twice-to-beat incentives and all have their respective fates in their hands.

Purefoods cannot say the same, as it would need to win its final assignment against Globalport and hope that sister squad Barangay Ginebra defeats the Elasto Painters on Sunday.

The quarterfinal cast was completed earlier in the night when Meralco dodged the upset axe by outsteadying KIA Motors, 99-93.

Meralco blew a 22-point lead in the first half and even trailed by three, 81-78, early in the fourth period after the Sorento dropped 33 points in the third quarter to make a game out of it.

Jared Dillinger fired 18 points in the first half and finished with 25, with Cliff Hodge completing a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as Meralco improved to 5-5.

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao started in his second official PBA game and again had a forgettable night, playing the first 6:30 that had the Sorento starting slow and trailing, 43-21 at one point in the second period.

Pacquiao did provide the inspiration on the bench as the Sorento played so well in the third that they enjoyed a 75-74 lead going into the waning seconds of the period.

But a 7-0 surge by Meralco had the Bolts erasing an 81-78 deficit as Mark Macapagal shot all of his eight points in the fourth.

“Basically, it was a tale of two halves for us – we played great in the first and basically forgot to play in the second, except for the final six minutes,” coach Norman Black, who missed four players, said.

Reil Cervantes led the Sorento with 18 points with new acquisition Eliud Poligrates shooting 11.