PBA: Talk 'N Text's arsenal overwhelms Alaska

source: gmanetwork.com

Talk `N Text’s locals made up for the lackluster play of import Omar Samhan, to turn back Alaska 110-98, and gain a piece of the top spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.


Hobbled by foul trouble and what coach Chot Reyes suspected is a torn ligament, Samhan struggled anew and accounted for only six points in his second game for the defending champions.

But with five Tropang Texters finishing in double figures, led by the 20 apiece of Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier, the team never had trouble booking its second straight win for a share of the lead with the Powerade Tigers.

Ranidel De Ocampo finished with 19 points, Jared Dillinger 17 and Kelly Williams 13 for Talk `N Text, which led by as many as 62-45 late in the first half on Fonacier’s three-pointer.

“The story of this game is our second unit,” coach Chot Reyes said, referring to the brilliant plays of Castro, Fonacier, and Dillinger.

“In the first half, we sat him (Samhan) because he had two quick fouls. In the second half, I started him again, and then he gained another two fouls.

“Maybe he tore a ligament in his left knee. Right now, we still have no replacement ready to fly in,” Reyes said of the 6-foot-10 Samhan.

Sonny Thoss had 22 big points to show the way for Alaska, which fell to 2-2 and saw its two-game winning streak come to an end.

With 18 points apiece for the Aces were import Adam Parada, L.A. Tenorio, and Cyrus Baguio.

But Alaska didn’t really threaten Talk `N Text until coach Joel Banal opted to sit Parada down and went with an all-Filipino line up that also featured seldom-used behemoth Samigue Eman (10 pts).

The ploy clicked as the Aces trimmed down the 17-point deficit to 84-80 early in the fourth.

But the Tropang Texters went to Dillinger and Williams to hike the lead back to 90-82, before the Aces made their final stand at 91-86 on a Parada basket.

Castro then buried a three-pointer to cap a short but telling 10-4 run as Talk `N Text took a safe 101-90 lead entering the homestretch. - AMD, GMA News

UPDATE: PBA ready to meet with Reyes, SBP to help SMART-Gilas [NEWS]

The scores:

Talk `N Text (110) -- Castro 20, Fonacier 20, De Ocampo 19, Dillinger 17, Williams 13, Samhan 6, Carey 5, Peek 4, Gamalinda 2, Aguilar 2, Alapag 2.

Alaska (98) -- Thoss 22, Parada 18, Tenorio 18, Baguio 18, Eman 10, Baracael 8, Custodio 4, Salamat 0, Reyes 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarterscores: 27-25, 62-48, 83-78, 110-98