Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 78
TALK ‘N TEXT CLAMPS DOWN ON PETRON BLAZE IN O.T. EN ROUTE TO WIN
Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 153
Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236
Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239
Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688
Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730
“IT’S better to be lucky than good,” was how Talk ‘N Text head coach Norman Black put it.
Black could afford such quip after his Tropang Texters celebrated their escape from the jaws of defeat with a 93-85 overtime victory over Petron Blaze Friday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Donnell Harvey notched a PBA career-high 38 points, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag hit some crucial shots in the stretch of regulation and TNT held their foes scoreless in the extension, a first in the league in more than eight years, or since Talk ‘N Text also first did the trick against Shell in Game 2 of their best-of-5 semifinal in the 2004-05 Philippine Cup in a 92-84 win.
Aside from that tough defensive stance, what pleases Black the most were some breaks that went his Texters’ way, prompting him to rank the triumph right up there in his colorful coaching career.
“This has got to be one of the best ones I ever had, considering this is not a finals,” said Black.
The victory was the Talk ‘N Text’s fifth in nine games and also gave Black a couple of things he was wishing for going into a very tough grind in their eliminations campaign.
“First, we want to stay ahead in the standings because one loss could bring you down in a hurry,” said Black.
“Second, we needed a confidence booster. We were struggling the entire conference, especially on defense. Our offense was off tonight so defense won the game for us once again.”
Throw in the fact his team’s form is a far cry from the one that carried it to a third straight Philippine Cup title.
“We badly needed a win to stay above water, what with a very tough schedule. We play Rain or Shine Sunday, then San Mig (Coffee), Ginebra and then Petron again, so this is a big win for us, give us some kind of boost going to those games,” stated Black.
The loss, its third in nine games and ninth in as many meetings with TNT since last year’s Philippine Cup semifinals, must surely hurt for Petron.
The game seemed to be the Boosters for the taking after Alex Cabagnot’s charity split made it an 85-79 count, only 37.1 seconds left in regulation.
Then De Ocampo and Alapag drained a triple each, the last from way beyond the arc, that forced OT.
In-between those treys, Petron also failed to pounce on an inbounding miscue between Larry Fonacier and Castro. Ronald Tubid got the loose ball and tried to call a timeout, but the referees did not see his motion and instead ordered a jump ball between him and Harvey.
That Cabagnot miss and two flubbed ones by Arwind Santos in the last 24 seconds should also rankle, as well as Tubid’s pass to June Mar Fajardo going out bounce, 1.4 ticks left.
Harvey almost won it right there with his heave three quarters of the court’s length almost finding the mark.
That miss hardly mattered at the end of the game which had 12 deadlocks, 17 lead changes and neither team leading by more than six points prior to the extension.
Petron was visibly shaken by the unexpected turn of events as it missed all its six shots from the field and committed three turnovers in the extension while the likes of Kelly Williams, Harvey, De Ocampo and Jayson Castro applied the finishing blows for TNT.
Marcio Lassiter paced the Boosters with 18 points with Arwind Santos adding 14, including 12 in the second half, and nine rebounds, Cabagnot 14 points and eight assists and Fajardo 13 and seven boards.
A big disappointment was Rodney White, who scored only 12 points, more than 16 below his five-game average while with Barako Bull last season. He also had seven rebounds but committed four turnovers with his timing clearly off.
Fonacier added 18 points for TNT and Alapag 10 and both issued seven assists each, most of their mark Harvey, whose previous high was 32 when Talk ‘N Text defeated Rain or Shine in Lapu-Lapu City March 24 last year.
“Except for Larry, my locals are still struggling and Harvey carried us in this ballgame, willing us to victory,” said Black. (NC)
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 93 – Harvey 38, Fonacier 18, Alapag 10, Williams 7, De Ocampo 7, Castro 6, Dillinger 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Alvarez 2, Aban 0, Carey 0.
PETRON BLAZE 85 – Lassiter 18, Santos 14, Cabagnot 14, Fajardo 13, White 12, Washington 6, Lanete 4, Yeo 4, Tubid 0, Pena 0.
Quarterscores: 17-18, 33-36, 53-56, 93-85
Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254
Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280
Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318
Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328
Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442
Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459
Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475
Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481
Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490
Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525
Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538
Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543
Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555
Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578
Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585
Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595
Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600
Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609
Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664
Warning: Undefined array key "test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 802
EDITORS' PICK
Warning: Undefined variable $data_for_HompageFG_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 816
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 819
Warning: Undefined variable $MR_data_for_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239
