Locals step up anew as TNT grabs share of lead after beating Air21

Mark Cardona of Air21 (dark) vs Larry Fonacier of Talk N Text (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Talk ‘N Text once more leaned on its local crew to beat Air21, 102-91, and grab a share of the lead in the 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup Monday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Gilas Pilipinas mainstays Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag led the way while also getting solid contributions off-the-bench from Kelly Williams and Harvey Carey with import Rodney Carney scoring just 12 points and grabbing two rebounds.

“It was a good job again by my local players, they really stepped up and really led us to this victory. Ranidel, Jayson, Jimmy Alapag, among others, and that’s really been the key to our success the last week,” said TNT head coach Norman Black, whose team tied San Mig Coffee in first place with a 4-1 record. “I think we’ve had four games in the last eight days and my local players have really stepped up and played well offensively and defensively.”

“We still need a little bit more support from our import Rodney Carney. I don’t think he really scored and grabbed a lot of rebounds tonight. But fortunately for us the local players are ready to play. They’re ready to deliver.”

Carney, whom the Tropang Texters settled for after their import Othyus Jeffers had to leave due to contract problems in the NBA, shot just four-of-12 from the field in 22 minutes. The former Philadelphia 76ers reserve Carney had just 13 points in his PBA debut and had 28 points in his previous game.

“That’s really a big question right now because we obviously need more support from our import,” Black admitted when asked if the team plans to stick with Carney or bring in a new one.

“Fortunately for myself and for the team, the local unit has really stepped up and kind of filled in the voice of what’s been missing offensively and defensively; for the team nut you can’t expect that to happen all the time or every game so I think the coaching staff, myself and the management will sit down tonight and try to figure out what we’re going to do about this,” Black said.

Talk ‘N Text led by as many as 20, 95-75, before Air21 cut it to half on a basket by Aldrech Ramos with 3:02 left. But the Express committed two costly turnovers that doomed their chances.

“We’re in a good position right now, the fact that we’re tied with San Mig Coffee for first place, so that’s really where we want us to be. We want to have an opportunity to get that twice-to-beat advantage going into the next round,” said Black.

De Ocampo scored 24 points, Castro had 19 points and Alapag added 16 and eight assists.

Dominique Sutton posted a game-high 31 points on top of 14 rebounds for the Express, which dropped to 3-2. Asi Taulava produced another double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. The hulking import, though, scored only two points in the fourth quarter.