Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes insisted his team still has a lot of work to be done though nailing a
first win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night.
Reyes pointed to their 27 turnovers – the most they committed in any game in the season and the
most by any team in a game in the conference.
But though still out of their championship form, the Texters managed to keep their domination of the
Powerade Tigers, squeezing out a 94-80 win.
Jimmy Alapag, the 2003 Rookie of the Year awardee, marked the game with a 16-point performance that
sealed his inclusion in the league’s elite 5,000-point club.
The crack Fil-Am guard was the 67th player to hit the plateau and only the 20th to have made at
least 5,000 points and 2,000 assists.
Paul Harris and Kelly Williams both churned out double-double numbers, helping the Texters break
into the win-column after a losing debut versus Smart Gilas Friday.
The Tigers slid to 1-2.
“At halftime, I was thinking there’s no way we can win the game as we committed 17 points
against a team playing zone,” said Reyes.
“Luckily, the players took it upon themselves to come together and hammer out the win. But
there’s no doubt that we’re not playing well. We’re rusty, a step slow. There’s no fluidity
in our game,” Reyes added.
“Hopefully, we can grind out some wins before we hit some stride. We’re playing out-of-town
Saturday then take a rest. Hopefully, we get better. We’re really not in shape. Madami pa kaming
kakaining bigas.”
The Tigers were obviously worse.
Russel Carter fired 27 points and Gary David rifled in 26 but the rest were non-factors.
Thus, Talk n Text, the Philippine Cup ruler, re-stamped its class on Powerade, dealing the Tigers an
11th straight beating in their head-to-head matches.
The Tigers have not beaten the Texters since a 103-96 decision on June 8, 2008.
Alapag knocked in four of seven three-point attempts, the second giving him 5,000-point production
over eight seasons in the league.
He made it 67-58 with 1:04 left in the third period with that historic shot.
Pumped-up, Alapag fired two more three-pointers and a total of 11 points in the fourth quarter, and
the Texters kept the Tigers at bay to the finish.
Talk n Text held Powerade to 27.7-percent field shooting in a tough defensive battle in the first
half ending with the Texters on top at 40-30.
The Texters built a double-digit spread right in the first quarter and held a 10-point lead at the
half, beating the Tigers on hustle plays.
TnT outscored Powerade 17-6 on fastbreaks; 9-6 on second-chance points and 9-7 off turnovers.
Harris got the Texters to a good start leading to a 23-13 advantage in the opening period. (SB)
The scores:
Talk n Text 94 – Harris 18, Alapag 16, Williams 12, Carey 10, Reyes 9, Fonacier 9, De Ocampo 8,
Dillinger 4, Castro 4, Peek 4, Aban 0.
Powerade 80 – Carter 27, David 26, Anthony 6, Gonzales 6, Antonio 5, Reyes 3, Lanete 3, Macapagal
2, Cruz 2, Rizada 0, Espino 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13, 40-30, 69-60, 94-80
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