SPG Program never had Points Advance - ie phantom booking a room without the points to back it up. There was some cases if you are Platinum or if you have an ambassador and you're points are in striking distance of the redemption needs, the rep would hold the room for you.

A Marriott Flyertalker replied to one of my posts (and I also read in posts on other threads) that legacy SPG properties do not participate on the former Marriott program of Points Advance. Make sense as there maybe contractual problems between franchisee hotel and Marriott (because original contract was signed with Starwood that doesn't have Points Advance)