Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes gets a victory ride after the Texters retained the All-Filipino title. (Ali Vicoy)

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Talk ’N Text wrote the final chapter to Powerade’s fairy tale story Sunday night, putting an end to the Tigers’ dream Cinderella finish with a deadly dose of championship experience, defensive savvy, and a booming offense.

Their fairy godmother, even if they had one, couldn’t have saved the Tigers.

The Tropang Texters captured their fourth PBA Philippine Cup title in nine years and their fifth overall behind a masterful Game Five that overwhelmed Powerade before the unyielding Tigers narrowed the gap, 110-101, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

“They wouldn’t give up, but neither would we,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, whose eighth title tied him at fourth place among the league’s “winningest” with Meralco Bolts consultant Jong Uichico behind the legendary Baby Dalupan (15), Tim Cone (13) and Norman Black (10).

Only Dalupan, however, with six All-Filipino crowns, has more than Reyes’ haul (5).

The victory, Reyes said, brought comfort to an old wound.

“Masakit yung pagkatalo namin noong sa Grand Slam (last season). Ito pala ang kapalit,” he said. “This makes it a lot sweeter. I believe championships are made of special moments, and there’s nothing more special than having Ali Peek with us here after that tragedy.”

Peek was shot by an unidentified assailant last year and his surviving and return from that accident were crucial to the Texters' climb to the top.

Former Ateneo Blue Eagle star Larry Fonacier, with averages of 16.2 points per game, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33 minutes, was named Bayad Center-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP, edging teammates Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag, previous winners of the award.

Ryan Reyes led TNT with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and an incredible 10 steals – an all-time high for a local. Ranidel de Ocampo added 18, including the short stab that made it 82-58 late in the third quarter, and a last wall of defense, the same one that helped the Texters come back from a 1-3 deficit against Petron Blaze in the semifinals, weathered a desperate comeback by the Tigers to within nine in the end.

Gary David, playing 46 minutes, poured 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter and JV Casio 13 of his 19 as Powerade outscored TNT, 37-25. But Marcio Lassiter failed to shake off the scoring funk (0 for 5 three-points) in finishing with 12 points in 38 minutes and the Tigers were unable to recover from the heavy third quarter deficit TNT saddled them with.

The scores:

TALK ’N TEXT 110 — Reyes 20, De Ocampo 18, Alapag 17, Castro 14, Peek 13, Williams 10, Fonacier 9, Dillinger 7, Gamalinda 2, Carey 0.

POWERADE 101 — David 37, Anthony 22, Casio 19, Lassiter 12, Adducul 4, Kramer 3, Crisano 3, Vanlandingham 1, Lingganay 0, Allera 0, Cruz 0.

Quarters: 30-16, 60-46, 85-64, 110-101.