Jimmy Alapag (No. 3) of Talk ‘N Text stretches for a shot against JV Casio of Alaska. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Chasing a twice-to-beat privilege via the backdoor, Talk ‘N Text gutted out a tight one Saturday that put a smile on coach Norman Black’s face.
“As a coach, you have to be happy with this win because we beat a good team that played its best,” Black said after a 121-117 overtime victory over Alaska that gave the Texters a momentary tie for third place in the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup eliminations.
Kelly Williams scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Ryan Reyes and Ranidel de Ocampo drilled in treys in the waning moments of the extension as the Texters repeated over the Aces in a Petron Saturday Special game before a fair-sized Mall of Asia Arena crowd.
“This is a tough win, a good win and a much-needed win,” Black said. “My feeling right now is for us to try to win as many games and hope to get the twice-to-beat. If not, at least we will have the right momentum going into the playoffs.”
Talk ‘N Text rose to 7-3 in a tie with Rain or Shine with both teams a full game behind second-running Petron Blaze. All three have four games left in their respective elimination round schedules.
Barangay Ginebra is setting the pace with a 9-1 card and looks set for a top two finish, which carries a distinct advantage since Nos. 1 and 2 would need to win just once over Nos. 8 and 7, respectively, in the quarterfinals.
The loss was the seventh in 11 games for the Aces, who dropped out of the upper half of the draw and fell into a deadlock with Barako Bull for sixth spot.
Playing in just his second game of the season, Reyes nailed a pull-up triple with 53.6 seconds left that shattered the game’s last tie at 113, before De Ocampo unloaded another trey for 119-115 with 25.1 to go.
Sonny Thoss scored a career-high 30 points counting a left-handed reverse layup with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation that forged extension at 108-all. Thoss, who also had 12 rebounds and two blocks, scored the only Alaska field goal in overtime.
There were six players who finished in twin digits for Black, with Jason Castro shooting 16 like De Ocampo while finishing with a night-high 10 assists.
Jimmy Alapag put the game to bed for the Texters with two free throws just over a second after the Aces had come within 119-117 courtesy of a Thoss field goal with 12.5 remaining.
A former MVP, Alapag has now made all of his 27 free throw attempts this season and has a streak of 36 straight counting his last nine tries in last season’s Governors’ Cup.
Allan Caidic, the retired member of the league’s 25 Greatest Players, made 70 consecutive charities while with San Miguel back in the 1993 All-Filipino Conference.
RJ Jazul and Gabby Espinas tossed in 18 each for the Aces.
The scores:
First Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 121—Williams 18, Reyes 17, De Ocampo 16, Castro 16, Fonacier 14, Anthony 13, Seigle 9, Carey 8, Alapag 5, Reyes J. 3, Baclao 2.
ALASKA 117—Thoss 30, Jazul 18, Espinas 18, Baguio 17, Casio 11, Abueva 9, Ramos 7, Eximiniano 3, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Hontiveros 0.
Quarters: 26-26; 48-40; 83-80; 108-108; 121-117
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