BARAKO Bull’s Emman Monfort looks to pass after Talk ‘N Text’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini blocks his path to the basket. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
TALK ‘N TEXT last night survived the first of at least three PBA Governors’ Cup games without its Gilas Pilipinas standouts by trimming Barako Bull, 118-113, in overtime after getting 48 points from import Tony Mitchell last night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mid-conference acquisition Sean Anthony also shone with 23 markers and a lot of the hustle on the other end as the Tropang Texters won a high-scoring game coach Norman Black didn’t expect.
“We were missing a lot of key players, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Black told reporters. “I thought we needed to play good defense to win, and it turned into a shootout.”
Mitchell scored in twin digits in each of the first three quarters and already had 36 of his total entering the fourth, only to sputter like the rest of the team in the stretch that allowed the Energy to forge extension at 101-all.
He redeemed himself in extra time by hitting eight points, including a running jumper that hit nothing but net that touched off a telling 9-3 run and put the game to bed for the Texters.
Black actually missed six players for the game, Gilas boys Larry Fonacier, Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo, Harvey Carey, who flew to the United States to get married, and the ailing Kelly Williams.
“I give credit to my players who are not in the Philippine team that performed well today,” Black said after getting 19 points from Ryan Reyes and 11 from Jai Reyes.
In the second game, Mario West fired 23 points as Meralco bucked a poor start to subdue Petron Blaze, 89-83.
Veteran Reynel Hugnatan had a throwback performance, notching 20 points as the Bolts spoiled the return of Gee Abanilla as the Boosters’ head coach.
Meanwhile, opening day winners Globalport and Rain or Shine dispute the early lead at 3:45 p.m. today at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The scores:
First Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 118—Mitchell 48, Anthony 23, Reyes R. 19, Reyes J. 11, Al-Hussaini 8, Aban 7, Peek 2, Raymundo 0, Aquino 0, Alvarez 0, Ferriols 0.
BARAKO BULL 113—Singletary 41, Macapagal 24, Pennisi 13, Intal 12, Monfort 9, Marcelo 4, Seigle 4, Jensen 3, Buenafe 3, Bulawan 0, Weinstein 0, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 26-31, 53-62, 81-80, 101-101, 118-113
Second Game
MERALCO 89—West 23, Hugnatan 20, Ross 14, Salvacion 13, Wilson 9, Reyes 4, Mangahas 2, Hodge 2, Guevarra 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allado 0.
PETRON 83—Millsap 24, Santos 16, Fajardo 12, Lassiter 8, Cabagnot 8, Tubid 7, Lutz 2, Lanete 2, Kramer 2, Miranda 2, Deutchman 0, Yeo 0, Ildefonso 0.
Quarters: 16-28, 39-41, 66-61, 89-83