Fonacier lifts TropangTexters to a third win
MANILA—Larry Fonacier capped a 27-point performance with a triple that lifted Talk ‘N Text past Powerade, 89-85, in Digos, Davao del Sur last night and kept the Tropang Texters unbeaten in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.
Fonacier broke an 85-85 tie forged by Powerade import Chris Porter with 18.5 seconds left and a free throw by Jason Castro sealed the third straight win by the Grand-Slam seeking Texters in the third PBA out-of-town game sponsored by Phoenix Fuel.
Powerade absorbed its third loss in four games after giving TNT its toughest challenge so far after two lopsided wins over Alaska and Rain or Shine.
Meanwhile, Alaska goes for another win even as B-Meg and Meralco try to bounce back from losses the last time out as the tournament moves to the San Juan Arena.
Fresh from a 107-102 victory over B-Meg, the Aces are installed as the solid picks in the 4:15 p.m. contest against the struggling Air21 Express, who have yet to get a big game from highly touted import Alpha Bangura.
An explosive find for the Express in the Commissioner’s Cup, Bangura is turning in paltry numbers with his scoring in all of the three Air21 losses—especially in the fourth quarter of those games—leaving a lot to be desired.
Against the lowly Powerade Tigers Wednesday night, Bangura tossed in four of his 10 points in the fourth which proved of little help as Air21 absorbed a 91-109 blowout to remain as the only winless squad in the nine-team field.
Meanwhile, a certain Darnell Hinson has been tapped by the Llamados in their game slated in Dubai this week.
The Llamados will likely still field Stephon Hannah against the B-Boys in the 6:30 p.m. game, though coach Jorge Gallent had elected to keep his import on the bench in the most crucial stages of that loss against Alaska.
Hannah scored eight points in each of the Llamados’ first two games before tossing in 18 against the Aces. But he has so far knocked down just 3-of-25 attempts from three-point distance.
The scores:
TALK N TEXT 89—Fonacier 27, Peek 14, Castro 14, Baker 11, Ryan Reyes 10, Aban 6, De Ocampo 4, Carey 3, Williams 0, Alapag 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.
POWERADE 85—Porter 18, David 10, Laure 8, Quinahan 8, Cruz 8, Macapagal 7, Anthony 6, Gonzales 4, Rizada 4, Allera 4, Antonio 3, Reyes, Jai 2, Espino 2, Lanete 1, Reyes, Rob 0.
Quarters: 17-15, 43-31, 65-63, 89-85
