Texters write off Tigers in Finals opener

Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey vs Sean Anthony. Photo by Nuki Sabio

DIGOS, Davao del Sur—Getting off to a strong start, Talk ‘N Text showed Powerade who’s the boss early with a lopsided 116-110 victory at the Davao del Sur Coliseum here Friday night to take a 1-0 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup title series.

Shutting down Gary David had been a nightmare for the Tigers’ two previous foes, but the Texters had a defensive answer.

Talk ‘N Text manhandled the undermanned Tigers in their own run-and-gun, high-scoring game, hitting 68 points at the half and the century mark with still 10:49 to play. Taking leads of as many as 20 points, the Texters put a dent on the sky-high confidence of Powerade.

“I think we did a good job containing him,” coach Chot Reyes said of David, who came into the game averaging a shade over 30 points in nine playoff games. “It’s a big part of our defensive objective (for the series).”

The Tigers played without No. 1 Draft pick JV Casio because of a pulled right hamstring.

“All we got was a 1-0 lead and we have to be ready for a Powerade comeback,” added Reyes, whose defensive ploy held the Tigers scoreless in the final 3:03.

Powerade got no closer than 67-74 before Ranidel de Ocampo drained two straight triples to restore order for the Tropang Texters.

Ryan Reyes, who came into the game with a taped shooting wrist, hit three triples in the first period alone and the Texters actually nailed their last four tries from that range in the opening quarter for a 38-21 lead.

Their hot shooting didn’t end there as Larry Fonacier, after Reyes had drained his fourth trey early in the second, joined the fray by hitting two more for the Texters for a 49-30 lead.

Jason Castro led the Texters with 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Game 2 is scheduled Monday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, with the Texters shooting for another victory to come closer toward what no other team since the defunct Great Taste in 1985 has ever achieved: repeat as all-Filipino champion.

Talk ‘N Text held David to “just” 19 points and the Powerade gunner managed to hit double figures only at the 1:54 mark of the third.

The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 116—Castro 23, Reyes 15, Dillinger 15, Fonacier 14, De Ocampo 14, Peek 13, Alapag 9, Aguilar 6, Carey 4, Williams 3, Gamalinda 0, Raymundo 0.
POWERADE 100—Anthony 23, David 19, Lassiter 19, Lingganay 13, Kramer 12, Cruz 4, Antonio 3, Vanlandingham 3, Adducul 2, Crisano 2, Allera 0
Quarters: 38-21, 68-52, 96-81, 116-100