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2-TIME DEFENDING CHAMP TALK N TEXT STILL ON TRACK
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JAYSON Castro was not his usual fiery self Wednesday, yet he played a major part in Talk ‘N Text’s 93-79 victory over Alaska that gave the defending champion the upper hand anew in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal duel at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Kelly Williams and Larry Fonacier led a sustained attack by the Tropang Texters from the second quarter on that gave them control of the game but it was Castro who figured prominently for them when the match turned really rugged and physical in the second half.
As a result, TNT emerged with a big rebound from an 88-100 loss in Game Two last Friday and seized momentum going to the fourth match of the best-of-seven duel Friday, also at the same Pasay City venue.
“Our defense was much better today,” said Texters coach Norman Black. “We came into the game with a gameplan and we executed well.”
Going to the game averaging just 7.5 points in the series, Williams wound up with a personal conference-high 23 points along with nine boards while Fonacier drilled in 21, including eight straight in a critical second quarter surge.
Castro, who averaged 14.5 points the first two games, scored only six and converted just one of five field tries. But he helped save the day for Talk ‘N Text by causing the ejection of two key Alaska players.
Calvin Abueva and Cyrus Baguio were tossed just 46 seconds apart in the fourth quarter after the former incurred his second flagrant foul-penalty 1 with a wayward slap on Castro’s neck, 6:45 left. He also got an F1 earlier for tripping Harvey Carey during a scramble.
Baguio followed suit with a forearm hit on the side of a driving Castro’s face, netting an F2 call and automatic ejection.
“I expect this to be a long series,” noted Black. “No teams will back down so the games are going to be very competitive, very physical. I expect it in future games, starting in Game Four. We have to be ready for it.”
Sonny Thoss’ 17 points and 14 rebounds led the Aces with Baguio, RJ Jazul and Mark Baracael winding up with at least 11 points each.
Ranidel de Ocampo was the lone other double-digit scorer for Talk ‘N Text with 12, but Jimmy Alapag more than atoned for a four-point night with a personal season-high 11 assists.
The game’s rugged complexion actually took shape with still 7:09 left in the third period, when Thoss and Jared Dillinger got into a scuffle which had Gabby Espinas and Kelly Williams joining in.
Espinas was initially announced to have adopted a fighting stance and slapped with an F2 before returning to the court after the call was changed to an F1.
That incident seemed to have fired up Alaska even more as it came charging back from a 12-point deficit to within 52-55, off Abueva’s charities, 4:44 left in the quarter.
The threat was quickly quashed, however, as Carey’s four straight points capped a 14-1 Texters charge that gave them their 16-point bulge that was trimmed to only 57-69 by the Aces going to the final canto.
Earlier, it was Fonacier who starred for Talk ‘N Text as his eight-point cluster, on a fastbreak layup, three straight charities and a triple, fueled his team’s 11-0 charge from a 21-25 deficit and into the lead for good.
The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 93 – Williams 23, Fonacier 21, De Ocampo 12, Carey 7, Dillinger 6, Castro 6, Reyes 5, Alapag 4, Peek 4, Raymundo 3, Aban 2, Gamalinda 0, Alvarez 0.
ALASKA 79 – Thoss 17, Baguio 13, Jazul 11, Baracael 11, Casio 7, Espinas 6, Abueva 4, Reyes 4, Dela Cruz 2, Hontiveros 2, Belasco 2, Eman 0.
Quarterscores: 14-19, 39-34, 69-57, 93-79
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EDITORS' PICK
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