LARRY Fonacier fired 18 points and three players contributed double-double efforts as Talk ‘N Text outplayed Globalport, 106-93, last night for the Tropang Texters’ first win streak in the young PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Texters, seeking to win this conference for an unprecedented fourth straight season, started out hot behind the versatile Fonacier and led by as many as 23 points in improving to 3-1 while dealing the Batang Pier a second straight defeat in a 1-3 card.
Danny Seigle played his first game in a Talk ‘N Text uniform and delivered 13 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes.
“It’s a good feeling having more offensive weapons with Danny Seigle and Ranidel (De Ocampo) coming back (from an injury),” Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black said. “We now have a well-rounded offensive game.
“They (Seigle and De Ocampo) will give us more balance offensively and become less predictable (for the opponents).”
Jay Washington paced the Batang Pier with 21 points and Terrence Romeo, the rookie who owns the season scoring high of 34 points, fired 16 despite missing seven free throws.
Meanwhile, Petron Blaze shoots for a fourth straight win today when the Boosters battle Barako Bull as action shifts back to Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Game time is 5:45 p.m. with the Boosters installed as the solid picks mainly because of a lineup that is playing great even with the continued absence of All-Star point guard Alex Cabagnot and three role players.
Alaska, meanwhile, tries to recover from back-to-back losses later in the night when the Aces slug it out with Air21 at 8 p.m.
The Express are reeling from four straight setbacks capped by a double overtime defeat at the hands of San Mig Coffee last Sunday that kept them as the only winless side in the 10-team field.
The scores:
First Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 106—Fonacier 18, Alapag 17, Seigle 13, Castro 12, Carey 11, Baclao 10, Williams 8, Poligrates 7, Anthony 5, De Ocampo 3, Celiz 2, Ferriols 0, Reyes 0.
GLOBALPORT 93—Washington 21, Romeo 16, Mercado 14, Chua 11, Garcia 7, Nabong 6, Salva 6, Belencion 4, Hayes 4, Lingganay 2, Menk 2, Ponferrada 0, Salvador 0.
Quarters: 34-20, 64-51, 91-68, 106-93