INQUIRER Sports

GAMES TODAY (Cuneta Astrodome)
4 p.m.—Air 21 vs Rain or Shine
6:30 p.m.—Alaska vs San Miguel Beer

MANILA, Philippines—The opening act for Chot Reyes and his retooled Talk ‘N Text was a victory made possible by a late Coca-Cola blunder and one that needed a review of the tape.

The new look Tropang Texters escaped with a thrilling 98-97 squeaker over the Tigers last night at the start of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigers, still celebrating a crucial defensive stop that handed them an opportunity to snatch the win, were slapped with a technical foul for excessive timeouts with 8.7 seconds left when Asi Taulava sued for time from the backcourt after cornering a loose ball.

It was a technical foul based on a technicality. Coca-Cola actually had a 30-second timeout but since Taulava was on the backcourt, officials, as league rules dictate, called it an automatic full timeout.

That gave Jimmy Alapag a technical free throw, which he converted to shatter the game’s seventh and last deadlock at 97-all.

Missed opportunity

Coca-Cola could have snatched the win on the next play but Alex Cabagnot missed a potential game-winning shot from 15 feet. Taulava’s follow-up failed to beat the buzzer although referees had to review the last play on the monitor to confirm the late basket.

“We got a break with that technical foul,” said coach Chot Reyes after the Texters won for the first time since they traded Taulava in last year’s Philippine Cup.

“This is a gutsy win. I felt we played really well at a time when we really needed Ali (Peek).”

Renren Ritualo pumped in 24 points, 20 in the first half when the Texters led, 60-42.

Behind Taulava, Nic Belasco and Ronjay Buenafe, the Tigers clawed their way back and even seized a 95-94 advantage on Buenafe’s triple with 49.7 seconds left.

“We are a very small team and eventually the size disadvantage takes its toll on the players,” said Reyes.

But Yancy De Ocampo, who scored the season’s first basket from beyond the arc, nailed a triple off his own offensive rebound to swing the lead back to the Texters, 97-95.

Cabagnot then buried two free throws to tie it up again with 32 seconds left.

Good account

Talk N’ Text rookies Jared Dillinger, Jason Castro and Rob Reyes also made good account of themselves. Dillinger turned out to be the most impressive with 15 points and six rebounds, before leaving the game in the fourth quarter because of cramps.

Relishing his new role as a point guard, Castro had five points and dished seven assists.

“I’m very happy with my rookies,” added Reyes, who also drew seven points and four rebounds from Rob Reyes.

Norwood debut

Meanwhile, Gabe Norwood, the No. 1 overall pick in the rookie draft, makes his debut today when his Rain or Shine crew battles Air21 at 4 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome.

San Miguel Beer and Alaska, on the other hand, collide at 6:30 p.m. in a battle of teams that have also revamped their rosters.

San Miguel added Mick Pennisi and Jay Washington to its already formidable roster while Alaska dealt away its top draft pick, Solomon Mercado, to Rain or Shine for high-scoring big man Joe Devance.

Mercado will join Norwood in the Rain or Shine backcourt against Air21.

The scores:

TALK N’ TEXT 98—Ritualo 24, Cardona 21, Dillinger 15, De Ocampo 11, Reyes 7, Carey 6, Allado 6, Castro 5, Alapag 3, Aljamal 0, Chia 0, Lao 0.

COCA-COLA 97—Buenafe 20, Belasco 18, Cabagnot 17, Taulava 13, Telan 13, Rizada 4, Macapagal 4, Arigo 4, Baguion 2, Calimag 2.

Quarters: 23-24, 60-47, 80-73, 98-97