TNT OPENS BACK-TO-BACK BID WITH WIN OVER GINEBRA
Just 10 days after winning the Commissioner’s Cup crown, Talk n Text still showed great enthusiasm to play, opening its bid for a rare back-to-back championships with a 95-91 decision over Barangay Ginebra san Miguel in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Imports Steffphon Pettigrew and Sam Daghles were key as the Tropang Texters beat out the Gin Kings in a duel of injury-crippled teams.
Pettigrew, TNT’s regular import, churned out 33 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and one assist while Daghles, an Asian reinforcement, contributed 12 markers and three boards as the Texters negated another explosive outing by Orlando Johnson for the Kings.
Pettigrew and Daghles led the TnT juggernaught on the sidelining of Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kevin Alas, Aaron Aban and Ryan Reyes while Johnson followed up a 50-point PBA debut with a 46-point job for the Kings struggling minus Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and Chris Ellis.
“We caught Ginebra in a getting-to-know stage because they have a new coach (Frankie Lim),” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.
“At malaking problema rin para sa amin ang nabawas dahil wala si Slaughter. Without him, we’re able to focus our defense on Johnson,” added Uichico, who nonetheless lauded his players for their winning attitude and winning effort.
“It’s really good we’re not on a championship hangover. We played hard. It’s human nature to relax (after winning a championship). It’s good we’re mentally tough to defy human nature,” Uichico pointed out.
Danny Seigle, Matt Rosser, Jay Washington, Larry Fonacier and Harvey Carey were six guys who sustained tough effort from their Commissioner’s Cup title run.
Seigle and Rosser topscored for the TNT locals with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Seigle teamed up with Pettigrew and Daghles in a crucial run at the finish as the Texters handed the Kings a second straight loss in the season-ending tourney.
Johnson narrowly missed what could have been a first back-to-back 50-point games by a Ginebra player in 14 years.
He was shut down by the Texters in the last 6:53 of play, with his four missed charities at the finish hastening Ginebra’s 0-2 start under their new coach.
Minus Slaughter and Aguilar, the Kings played with a small lineup, with Dave Marcelo playing extended minutes (35:04) under his college coach.
They dragged the Texters in a battle but fell short in their bid in the end. (SB)
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