RAIN OR SHINE import Arizona Reid goes over the back of Barako Bull’s Keith Jensen in a possession battle. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Talk ‘N Text snapped San Miguel Beer’s three-game winning streak with a 103-97 victory that gave the Tropang Texters a piece of second place last night in the PBA Governors’ Cupat Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Former MVP Jimmy Alapag tossed in 12 points in the fourth period and helped stave off several San Miguel uprisings anchored on Reggie Williams as Talk ‘N Text rose to 3-1 to tie idle San Mig Coffee and Air21.
Rodney Carney was far more impressive in his second game with Talk ‘N Text, finishing with 28 points—14 of them in the third period. And when he cooled off in the fourth, Alapag was there to do the job.
“We got what we wanted from our import [in his second game],” Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black said. Carney scored just 13 points in his debut, a controversial 83-81 victory over Rain or Shine last Wednesday.
Williams scored 24 of his 33 points in the final two periods, and, together with June Mar Fajardo almost pulled it out for the Beermen, who dropped to 3-2.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine bounced back from a stinging loss just a couple of nights back by nipping Barako Bull, 96-93, in the curtain-raiser to rise to 2-3 overall.
In a related development, veteran referee Jimmy Mariano, who missed a crucial call in the Painters’ 81-83 loss to the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters on Wednesday, was suspended four games by the league.
The scores:
First Game
RAIN OR SHINE 96—Reid 34, Chan 15, Lee 12, Uyloan 8, Belga 8, Norwood 7, Almazan 4, Arana 3, Cruz 2, Rodriguez 2, Tiu 1, Tang 0, Nuyles 0, Teng 0.
BARAKO BULL 93—Wise 41, Fortuna 14, Jensen 10, Pennisi 9, Intal 5, Wilson 4, Miller 3, Marcelo 3, Lastimosa 2, Labagala 2, Thiele 0, Buenafe 0.
Quarters: 26-27, 49-46, 76-72, 96-93.
Second Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 103—Carney 28, Castro 21, Alapag 18, Fonacier 8, Baclao 8, Williams 7, De Ocampo 6, Canaleta 5, Reyes Ryan 2, Reyes Rob 0, Carey 0.
SAN MIGUEL BEER 97—Williams 33, Fajardo 20, Santos 18, Kramer 8, Mercado 7, Tubid 5, Lutz 4, Lanete 2, Maierhofer 0, Duncil 0, Chua 0.
Quarters: 19-19, 44-38, 76-73, 103-97.