Vic Manuel of Alaska (light) vs Ranidel De Ocampo of Talk N Text (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Calvin Abueva hit the game winning basket at the buzzer and Alaska cameback from 18 points down to beat Talk ‘N Text, 100-98, in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Tuesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Abueva went coast to coast before sinking a floater over Larry Fonacier coming off a steal by JVee Casio on Jayson Castro at the other end to cap his stellar performance.
He finished with career-highs 26 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Aces, who rallied from a 62-80 deficit.
“Hindi ko na naisip mag-timeout. Nasa momentum na ako at kung hindi man pumasok overtime naman (I didn’t thought at all of calling a time-out. I was in my momentum and if I didn’t score I thought of overtime),” recalled Abueva, who received the pass from veteran swingman Dondon Hontiveros and had about five seconds to get from one court to the other.
“I think there are some things that Calvin gives us that I don’t know if any other player in the league can give us,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton. “He is a whirling dervish out there. A tazmanian devil. I keep coming up with names I mean it’s just amazing — his ability to get to balls.”
The 6-foot-3 Abueva played with controlled recklessness that made him lethal on both ends.
He scored 12 points alone in the fourth quarter which also included two free throws that tied the game at 98, with 18.2 seconds left.
Hontiveros wound up with 14 points while Casio and Banchero added 12 each for the Aces, who improved to 2-0.
Ryan Reyes topscored for the Tropang Texters with 24 points built on 6-of-7 from downtown. No. 2 overall pick Kevin Alas fired 15 points, including five straight points in the third quarter that gave TNT an 18-point cushion, while going against his father and Alaska’s lead assistant Louie Alas for the first time.
Alaska dominated the rebounding department, 61-32, and had 14 more made free throws.