TALK N TEXT RIPS ALASKA
With a monstrous rebounding job from import Richard Howell, Talk n Text ripped apart defending champion Alaska, 85-72, on opening night of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Wednesday.
Howell performed his task to control the boards and let his local teammates do the scoring as the Tropang Texters dominated their first outing since being disposed of by the eventual champs San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in their Philippine Cup Final Eight faceoff.
Howell outperformed reigning Best Import winner Rob Dozier, providing the Texters much scoring opportunities by getting a season-high 30 rebounds that went with 15 points.
He was the first player in the PBA in eight years to chalk up that number or since Ginebra import Chris Porter notched the same in an 85-77 win over Red Bull in Game Six of the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference best-of-seven semifinals.
Shattered was the previous season-high of 26 recorded by Asi Taulava in the first conference and matched by Evan Brock in the GlobalPort-Air21 match earlier in the night.
“It’s a great start for us. We played good defense the entire game,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black, finding no need to mention Howell served as the solid anchor of their tough defensive effort.
Offensively, Jimmy Alapag was their lead light, being an efficient facilitator and he himself having his significant contribution of 11 markers.
“He really orchestrated our team today,” said Black of Alapag.
Ranidel de Ocampo topscored with 21 points while Jayson Castro chipped in 12 for the Texters who dealt the Aces severe beating in the middle quarters.
Talk n Text outscored Alaska, 23-13, in the second quarter and, 28-18, in the third period to open a 73-53 gap going into the final canto.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Alapag and KG Canaleta followed by a tip-in by Howell had the Texters pulling away for good at 69-52.
Howell eventually notched double-double numbers with that play – his 21st rebound and 10th marker.
The Marietta, Georgia native is the youngest among the current crop of imports at 23. But he played with much maturity at least in his PBA debut.
Howell and the Texters outrebounded the Aces, 64-47, and the TnT gunners outshot their Alaska counterparts, 9-5, from beyond the arc.
De Ocampo, Castro, Alapag and Canaleta nailed two three-pointers each.
“KG will be among our main scorers this conference,” said Black.
Alapag went 4-of-5 from the field and buried a charity, improving to 47-of-47 his perfect free-throw shooting from last season. (SB)
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