Talk ‘N Text crushes San Miguel, Barako Bull shuts down Meralco

By: 14 years ago

MANILA—More agile and cohesive despite being undermanned, Talk ’N Text won out in the first collision of heavyweights with a 97-83 dismantling of San Miguel Beer Sunday night in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The Texters broke away for good halfway through the fourth quarter, turning what was tipped to be a close contest into an ugly rout at the Cuneta Astrodome that gave Talk ’N Text a second straight victory for the solo lead.

Jimmy Alapag, after shooting just three points in a victory over defending champion Derby Ace last week, tossed in 27 this time, highlighting his performance with a 6-of-10 clip from beyond the arc, while Harvey Carey scattered 20 and grabbed 20 boards.

“We held them (Beermen) to 83 points and that pleases me the most,” Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes said. “We wanted to capitalize on them having just a day’s rest. We wanted to catch them not at their best.”

The Beermen fell to 1-1, tied with idle Barangay Ginebra, Barako Bull and newcomer Meralco after the Energy Boosters posted a 74-68 upset of the Bolts in the first game.

From 28-25, the Texters, who continue to flaunt mean form despite missing Ranidel de Ocampo, dropped a 13-0 bomb to post their first sizeable lead, 41-25, before another hot surge capped by an Alapag triple gave them a 53-36 bubble.

It was all Talk ’N Text from there until San Miguel showed some signs of life to come within 70-76.

But that was the Beermen’s last gasp as the Texters finished them off with an 11-0 tear for 87-70 entering the final six minutes.

Playing great defense and shooting exceptionally well, the much-maligned Barako Bull squad knocked the lights out of the Bolts in the fourth quarter behind Sunday Salvacion and Reed Juntilla.

Salvacion scored nine points and Juntilla had eight while the rest of the Barako Bull crew starved the Bolts to just nine points to pull off the come-from-behind victory.

The win could be considered as just the second upset of the tournament after Meralco’s opening-day conquest of Barangay Ginebra.

“We learned our lessons the last time against Alaska (which beat Barako Bull by 24 points on Wednesday),” coach Junnel Baculi told reporters. “I told my players to just be consistent on defense and our offense will follow.

“We are a team that cannot outshoot other teams,” he continued. “But we can out-defend them. Hopefully, this is a confidence-builder for my less talented team.”

Salvacion actually almost outshot the entire Meralco squad in the fourth where he unloaded three straight triples to highlight a 15-2 run that wiped out a 53-59 deficit.

Rob Wainwright finished with 13 points and Mark Isip 10, and hard-working rookie Hans Thiele plucked down 13 boards that went with eight points for the Boosters, the league doormat the last two seasons. Photo by Mark Giongco

The scores:
BARAKO BULL 74—Salvacion 21, Wainwright 13, Juntilla 11, Isip 10, Thiele 8, Dimaunahan 4, Hubalde 3, Andaya 2, Misolas 2, Alonzo 0, Duncil 0, Cruz 0, Yee 0.
MERALCO 68—Cardona 19, Belga 13, Espinas 11, Taulava 9, Ross 6, Aquino 4, Weinstein 2, Escobal 2, Omolon 2, Aljamal 0, Daa 0.
Quarters: 18-18, 28-37, 53-59, 74-68
Second Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 97—Alapag 27, Carey 20, Williams 16, Dillinger 12, Peek 10, Fonacier 6, Reyes 4, Castro 2, Aban 0, Alvarez 0.
SAN MIGUEL BEER 83—Washington 27, Hontiveros 13, Seigle 10, Santos 9, Cabagnot 7, Artadi 4, Racela 4, Pennisi 3, Yeo 2, Tugade 2, Peña 2, Miranda 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 44-34, 72-61, 97-83