TNT IN BOUNCE-BACK WIN OVER RAIN OR SHINE
BINAN, Laguna – Paul Lee misfired a potential game-winning trey at the buzzer, and Talk ‘N Text preserved an 83-81 decision over Rain or Shine in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup at the Alonte Sports Arena here Wednesday night.
Talk ‘N Text didn’t score a single point in the last 2:07 of play after stretching a two-point lead to seven, 83-76, on a crucial five-point binge by KG Canaleta, Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo.
The Tropang Texters faced the specter of bungling the game, but pulled through with the pulsating victory with Lee missing a three-pointer from atop the key.
Earlier, Gabe Norwood scored on a short stab then Jeff Chan nailed a tough triple off Larry Fonacier to make it 81-83 with 30.5 ticks left.
A missed jumper by Castro in the ensuing play opened the opportunity for the Elasto Painters to steal the game. Alas, Lee failed to make it.
With new import Rodney Carney obviously not in shape, the Talk ‘N Text locals carried much of the fight as the Texters bounced back from a loss to Alaska Milk the last time out and gained a share of third place with the Aces, the Air21 Express and the San Mig Coffee Mixers at 2-1.
The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, slid to 1-3.
Jimmy Alapag snapped out of a personal slump, going 3-of-4 from the three-point area and sharing team topscoring honors with KG Canaleta with 15 points apiece.
Fonacier also stepped up, coming through with a rare double-double game with 14 markers and 11 rebounds.
Carney, the replacement to Othyus Jeffers, huffed and puffed for only 13 points.
But despite little help from Carney, the Texters took control most of the way.
With RoS down by six at 43-49, Chris Tiu and Chan banged away back-to-back treys to spark a 13-to-nothing run that pushed the E-Painters ahead at 56-49.
The Texters, however, regrouped quickly, coming to within two, 61-63, at the end of the third, then regaining control, 74-66, on three straight treys by Alapag and Fonacier early in the fourth.
Talk ‘N Text never trailed from there on. (SB)
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 83 – Alapag 15, Canaleta 15, Fonacier 14, Carney 13, De Ocampo 9, Williams 6, Carey 4, Reyes Ryan 2, Baclao 2, Castro 2, Reyes Rob 1.
RAIN OR SHINE 81 – Reid 19, Chan 12, Almazan 9, Lee 8, Rodriguez 8, Tang 7, Tiu 5, Norwood 5, Arana 4, Belga 2, Cruz 2, Ibanes 0, Uyloan 0.
Quarterscores: 28-26, 45-41, 61-63, 83-81
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