Cardona buried a long triple from a deep left corner with 1.1 seconds left as Talk ‘N Text outlasted Barangay Ginebra in a gripping showdown, 99-96, and tied their best-of-seven semifinals series in the Talk ‘N Text-PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Not to be outshone, Red Bull, behind a big second half, turned back San Miguel Beer, 106-84, to similarly even their separate Last 4 series.

The Bulls started big, wavered in the second quarter but came back strong after the break to brush off the Beermen.

It was a big comeback for the Bulls whose last quarter collapse in the first game allowed the Beermen to score a come-from-behind 114-109 win.

But in victory, Red Bull Coach Yeng Guiao is in danger of being assessed a fine after making the dirty finger sign in the second quarter. The fiery Bulls coach was incensed by a blocking foul called on Mick Pennisi on a driving Andy Seigle and banged the officials’ table for a technical foul late in the second quarter.

Known as "Captain Hook" for his awkward hook shots, Cardona showed that he is also deadly from way behind the three-point arc as he made his shot in front of Caguioa himself.

When his shot swished gently into the net, the 6-foot-1 guard punched the air and then ran like a child – pointing his finger to the direction of where his former La Salle coach Franz Pumaren was seated.

"That was for him," said Cardona, who led the Phone Pals attack with 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

It was a well-executed play coming off a timeout with 23.6 seconds remaining as playmaker Jimmy Alapag waited for some time before attacking the lane. And when he found Cardona unguarded, he immediately gave the ball.

"That was a big shot, he’s been doing that since his college days," said Pals coach Derrick Pumaren.

The series is now tied at 1-1 after the King took Game 1, 115-110, behind the 34-point performance of Caguioa.

Talk ’N Text was more of an aggressor this time compared in Game 1, dictating the tempo and taking advantage of its tall frontline against the short-handed Ginebra, which missed the services of big man Eric Menk who is nursing a right calf muscle injury.

Forwards Anthony Washington and Harvey Carey contributed 20 and 15 points, respectively, while center Yancy de Ocampo came off the bench to finish with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

"With or without Menk we know Ginebra is a tough nut to crack," Pumaren noted. "We wanted Ginebra to beat us on half court plays rather than its running game, which it did in Game 1."

Pumaren said his team was totally embarrassed after Game 1, saying: "We thought it’s going to be easy without Menk."

In that game, Caguioa was almost unstoppable.

Although Caguioa did score 31 points, the 21st in his career to score 30 or more and sixth against the Pals, he found TNT’s defense too hard to break. He made only 11 of 24 shots from the field.

Caguioa gave the Gin Kings a 56-54 lead to start the third quarter, but the Pals answered with a 13-0 run to take a 67-57 advantage. They led by 15 points, 74-59, on a trey by Cardona, 5:36 left in the third frame.