TALK N TEXT MOVES UP
With two nights of good sleep, Rodney Carney came out to put in a decent job.
Carney showed a marked improvement from his lousy 13-point PBA debut, and the Talk n Text ace locals continued to deliver as the Tropang Texters fended off the injury-crippled but fighting San Miguel Beer side, 103-97, in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night.
“We got what we wanted from our import and the locals really stepped up and supported him,” said coach Norman Black after they made it two-zero with Carney and improved to 3-1 overall, thus, catching up with Air21 and San Mig Coffee at second place behind solo leader Barangay Ginebra (3-0).
“I’ve adjusted but I still lacked the wind. I will be tremendous once I get it,” said Carney, who came through with 28 points versus the Beermen.
The biggest help came from Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag who combined for 39 points.
As in the last game, Alapag sizzled hottest in the payoff period.
Checking a personal slump the last time out, Alapag roared on with an 18-point game highlighted by three triples and three charities in the fourth quarter.
“We really did a good job in rotating the ball,” said Alapag sharing the credit with his teammates.
“Our big guys did a good job in being active. Junmar is the league’s best big guy at the moment. He still made big points, but at least our big guys made it tough for Junmar,” Alapag pointed out.
Fajardo piled up 20 points but none in the last 14 minutes of the game.
Reggie Williams and Arwind Santos delivered their usual numbers with 33 and 18 points, respectively, but the Beermen terribly missed the services of injured stars Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter.
Alapag punished his defenders with 5-of-8 three-pointers, the last giving Talk n Text a 99-92 lead with 2:14 left to play.
The Beermen actually came to within two at 97-99 on a five-point binge by Williams but the Texters kept their heads above water on free throws by Ranidel de Ocampo and Castro in the last 20 seconds.
With much help from their second group, the Texters set the pace most of the first half, closing it out at 44-38.
Bench scoring was 17-5 in favor of the Texters in the first 24 minutes of play. The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 103 – Carney 28, Castro 21, Alapag 18, Fonacier 8, Baclao 8, Williams 7, De Ocampo 6, Canaleta 5, Reyes Ryan 2, Reyes Rob 0, Carey 0.
SAN MIGUEL BEER 97 – Williams 33, Fajardo 20, Santos 18, Kramer 8, Mercado 7, Tubid 5, Lutz 4, Lanete 2, Maierhofer 0, Duncil 0, Chua 0.
Quarterscores: 19-19, 44-38, 76-73, 103-97
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