Awesome outside sniping gives all-Pinoy TNT 3-0 card

source: www.pba.ph


Sans an import and their head coach, the Talk n Text Tropang Texters defied tremendous odds, jolting the B-Meg Llamados, 102-96, to stay unbeaten in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night. 


The Texters used a remarkable 19-of-41 three-point shooting to make up for their lack of inside presence as they overcame Denzel Bowles and the Llamados for a third straight win in the mid-season tourney.

Already without an import, the Texters also lost coach Chot Reyes for technical infractions.

“Ignorance is not an excuse. I’m ignorant of that rule when you cross the line at halftime. I’m guilty and they had to call the technical foul on me,” said Reyes ejected from the game before the start of the second half.

The TnT mentor said credit belonged to his players.

“My players played a hell of a game. It’s easy for us to make excuses since we’re playing without an import and we’re up against a strong opponent in B-Meg. But we came into the game na walang palusutan. That’s how exactly the players attacked the game,” said Reyes.

“We executed well our defensive game plan. We felt their import would score anyway but we may have a chance if we cover their wings. That’s what happened,” Reyes added.

The Texters punished the Llamados with their torrid outside shooting and their good defense on James Yap and PJ Simon.

Jayson Castro shone with six triples and a total of 22 points while Ranidel de Ocampo sparkled with five treys and a total of 19 markers.

Kelly Williams, Larry Fonacier, Jared Dillinger, Jimmy Alapag and Riego Gamalinda combined for eight three-pointers for the Texters who led by as many as 16 though playing with an all-Filipino crew.

It helped that the Texters limited Yap and Simon to five and three points, respectively.

“The fact that we didn’t have an import, we didn’t want to challenge them inside. That forced us to play from the outside, believing that’s the only way we can beat them,” said Reyes.

The Texters were left without an import with Omar Samhan suffering a torn ACL in their last game against Alaska. Samhan has undergone a surgery to repair his injury before flying back to the US.

With a remarkable 12-of-22 three-point shooting, the Texters took the half at 61-49.

De Ocampo knocked in four treys, Castro rifled in three, Williams drained two and Dillinger, Alapag and Gamalinda one each as against only three of the whole B-Meg team.

The Texters also had a better overall field shooting as they seized control right in the opening period, 28-20.

Bowles delivered 38 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter but the Texters stood their ground, having their answers each time the Llamados drew close. (SB)

The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 102 - Castro 22, De Ocampo 19, Williams 17, Fonacier 11, Dillinger 8, Alapag 8, Carey 6, Peek 6, Gamalinda 3, Reyes 2.

B-MEG 96 - Bowles 38, Devance 19, Pingris 8, Barroca 7, Intal 6, Yap J. 5, Urbiztondo 4, Yap R. 4, Simon 3, Reavis 2.

Quarters: 28-20, 61-49, 84-74, 102-96