TALK ‘N TEXT SURVIVES ALASKA IN OT
TALK ‘N Text finally got another victory. But this one should rank among the franchise’s toughest.
The Tropang Texters withstood a gritty Alaska stand to eke out a 114-111 overtime victory over Thursday in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Jayson Castro scored a new career-high 33 points, capped by a critical three-point play, while Jimmy Alapag scattered six of his 20 points in the extension as TNT notched a second win in three games.
Alaska did have chances to salvage the game, but crucial misses by Dondon Hontiveros from the stripe and JVee Casio on a drive did the Aces in as they absorbed a second straight defeat and dropped to a 1-3 win-loss slate.
“We knew the game was going to be tough,” said Tropang Texters head coach Norman Black. “We’ve been struggling, trying to get our rhythm back. It was one of those games where you really have to gut it out and I’m happy for my guys for not giving up.”
Sophomore forward Aldrech Ramos notched a career-high 20 points along with seven rebounds while Sonny Thoss had 16 and 12 for Alaska.
Calvin Abueva could have helped in the endgame, but he got three fouls early, picked up back-to-back ones in the third and ultimately fouled out with still 7:52 left in regulation after contributing 14 points.
Hontiveros added 15 points, including a triple that opened up OT and another that put the Aces within 111-112, still 1:12 left in the game. But he failed to at least draw them level with his charity misses.
Kelly Williams, who missed his first five charity tries, made the front end of his freebies off Hontiveros’ foul to make it a two-point difference.
Following Casio’s miss, Harvey Carey also made one free throw that practically sealed the game, only 5.1 ticks left.
“I’ll take this victory tonight, enjoy it and look forward to the game versus Globalport (Tuesday),” said Black, adding that unrestricted free agent Danny Seigle, who has been signed to a one-year contract, would probably play by then.
It was Casio himself who forged the extension after booming in a trey that tied the game up at 103 and stood after Castro missed a drive and Carey’s follow up failed to beat the buzzer.
Thoss’ baseline jumper gave Alaska a 108-106 edge, but that was immediately razed by Castro’s drive and bonus charity off Ramos’ foul.
In all, the game had 12 deadlocks and 19 lead changes with neither team leading by more than seven points. (NC)
The scores:
Talk ‘N Text 114 – Castro 33, Alapag 20, Fonacier 18, Carey 15, Williams 7, Reyes 7, Poligrates 5, Peek 4, Anthony 3, Baclao 2, Celiz 0, Reyes 0.
Alaska 111 – Ramos 20, Thoss 16, Hontiveros 15, Abueva 14, Casio 13, Espinas 12, Baguio 10, Jazul 7, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Avenido 0, Buenafe 0.
Quarterscores: 28-24, 50-48, 75-74, 103-103, 114-111
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