KIA, Talk ‘N Text snare No. 3

BLACKWATER’S Val Acuña receives a pass as KIA’s Rich Alvarez tugs on his jersey in yesterday’s game at Cuneta Astrodome. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

THE POTENTIAL season tiebreaker between newcomers KIA Motors and Blackwater turned out to be a classic with the Carnival winning it after both sides went to a place they haven’t been before.

KIA held the Elite to just two points in each of the two overtimes last night to pound out an 83-76 victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup and gain a share of second spot with a second straight win in the elimination round at Cuneta Astrodome.

Hamady Ndiaye capped his domination of Blackwater counterpart Marcus Douthit with four points in the second extension that made it 79-76 as the Carnival rose to 3-1 overall and tied idle Alaska and Talk ‘N Text, which trounced NLEX, 108-89, in the nightcap.

Import Steffphon Pettigrew led the Tropang Texters with 26 points.

Ndiaye, who was in the Senegal squad that Gilas Pilipinas beat in overtime in the World Cup last year in Seville, Spain, finished with 16 points, 23 rebounds and missed a triple double by a block, with four of his rejections coming off the seasoned Douthit.

“In the second overtime, I told my players that this isn’t about the Xs and Os anymore, it was all about pride and the heart,” KIA coach Chito Victolero said.

The game would go down in league history as the lowest-scoring double overtime ever, and those four points by the Elite in the extra 10 minutes were the fewest by any team.

The scores:

First Game

KIA 83—Chang 25, N’Diaye 16, Revilla 10, Dehesa 9, Nuyles 8, Yee 4, Bagatsing 3, Thiele 2, Webb 2, Alvarez 2, Pascual 2,Deutchman 0, Avenido 0, Parreno 0.

BLACKWATER 76—Heruela 19, Douthit 16, Cervantes 13, Reyes 8, Laure 8, Gamalinda 6, Faundo 2, Erram 2, Acuna 2, Timberlake 0, Celiz 0, Bulasan 0.

Quarters: 21-16, 34-28, 50-52, 72-72 (reg.), 74-74 (1OT), 83-76 (2OT)

Second Game

TALK ‘N TEXT 108—Pettigrew 26, Castro 19, De Ocampo 12, Williams 11, Daghles 10, Rosser 10, Fonacier 8, Carey 6, Seigle 6, Washington 0, Miller 0, Espiritu 0, Reyes 0.

NLEX 89—Taulava 25, Alexander 22, Madanly 22, Villanueva 10, E. Villanueva 4, Borboran 3, Wolson 3, Cardona 0, Canaleta 0, Lingganay 0, Ramos 0, Apinan 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 57-44, 80-70, 108-89