Tropang Texters rip Gin Kings; PBA returns to Big Dome

Photo by Nuki Sabio

Talk ‘N Text used a 30-8 second quarter run to shut out the partisan crowd and went on to mangle Barangay Ginebra, 123-113, at the end of the PBA Governors’ Cup two-game swing at the Al Shabab Sports Club in Dubai Friday night.

Jimmy Alapag hit three straight triples to highlight that crippling blitz and Maurice Baker scored all but four of his 23 points in the first half as the Grand Slam-seeking Tropang Texters return to Manila still toting a league-best 4-1 card.

After scoring just two points in a 105-111 loss to B-Meg Thursday that snapped TNT’s perfect run, Alapag finished with 20 points.

“We lost the game against B-Meg on effort. But tonight we did what we had to do,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes said. “We dove for loose balls, we played good defense and battled for rebounds and shot the ball very well in the first half.”

The Texters took the half with a 62-37 lead and wound up with 14 triples overall.
Prodded endless “Ginebra” chants from thousands of overseas Filipino workers, the Gin Kings opened up the third period with a 24-12 run to make a game out of it again.

But the strain of playing catch up all game eventually wore down the Kings.

Meanwhile, Alaska guns for a third straight win while Rain or Shine shoots for a share of the lead when they battle separate foes today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces face struggling Petron at 4 p.m. while the Painters, who won three of their first four outings, take on Powerade in the nightcap.

The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 123—Baker 23, Alapag 20, Reyes 17, Castro 16, Carey 16, Peek 9, Williams 8, Fonacier 8, De Ocampo 6, Aban 0, Yee 0.
BRGY. GINEBRA 113—Stinson 30, Caguioa 26, Intal 15, De Ocampo 9, J. Wilson 9, W. Wilson 8, Labagala 7, Menk 5, Tubid 4, Miller 0, Cortez 0, Aquino 0.
Quarters: 32-29; 71-55; 94-88; 123-113