 |
| Ranidel De Ocampo and the Texters finally broke thru the win column after beating the Boosters. |
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS, 102-87
Putting behind their downfall in the last conference, the Talk n Text Tropang Texters found a way to keep their streak versus the Petron Blaze Boosters in their head-to-head battles. The Texters broke into the win-column in the PBA Governors Cup with an astonishing 102-87 triumph over the previously unbeaten Boosters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Coach Chot Reyes and his troops made it 5-0 over the Boosters since their amazing rally from 1-3 down in their best-of-seven semifinal showdown in the Philippine Cup.
The Texters played with renewed vigor and energy following a serious pow-wow after having lost their first two games in the season-ending tourney. With a positive mindset, the Texters regained their competitive form and overwhelmed a badly stunned Petron squad.
Paul Harris more than held his own against Eddie Basden, and Ranidel de Ocampo checked his personal slump to lead the Texters to the key win. Harris led all scorers with 27 points and added 10 rebounds while De Ocampo came through with 23 points and five rebounds.
Jarred Dillinger and Japeth Aguilar contributed double-digit outputs while Ryan Reyes chipped in five points, four rebounds and two assists before hobbling to the bench late in the second period. Reyes might be hurt again.
The Texters dominated the Boosters with an impressive 52.1-percent shooting, leading by as many as 25 points at 91-66 on six straight points by Aguilar.
TNT 102 - Harris 27, De Ocampo 23, Dillinger 15, Aguilar 10, Williams 9, Peek 7, Reyes 5, Fonacier 3, Alapag 3, Raymundo 0, Aban 0.
PET 87 - Basden 19, Lutz 19, Cabagnot 15, Santos 12, Ildefonso 6, Lanete 4, Washington 4, Pena 4, Yeo 3, Miranda 1, Reyes 0.
QS: 30-21, 46-41, 76-64, 102-87
 |
| Paul Harris led the way as TNT got its first win in the Governor's Cup. |
 |
| Jay Washington struggled with just 4 points against the Texters. |
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over AIR21 EXPRESS, 106-92
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao maintains Air21 is one team not to be trifled with.
"Air21 is a deceivingly strong team," pointed out Guiao. "One would think they're an easy team to play, but when you play them papahirapan ka."
The grizzled tactician could afford to be magnanimous, especially after his Elasto Painters gave the Express a 102-96 manhandling Wednesday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victory was the third in as many games for Rain or Shine and all, according to Guiao, because the team is clicking on both ends of the court.
Indeed, so sharp were the Elasto Painters that they bucked 10 missed charities to post as much as an 84-64 spread in the third quarter and went into the last 5:07 of the game with a very comfortable 98-80 cushion.
Jamelle Cornley scattered 21 points and 14 rebounds. The markers were five below his average, but he had plenty of help this time. Jeff Chan wound up with 16 anchored on a 5-for-9 three-point shooting, Gabe Norwood added 13, all in the second half, and Ronjay Buenafe 11 despite going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Zachary Graham led everybody with 37 points and 20 rebounds, but Paolo Hubalde was the lone other double-digit scorer for Air21 with 10 and all were made in the first half as the Express dropped to a 1-2 win-loss slate.
Norwood was at the forefront of a crucial third quarter assault, when he scored nine of his
points, including a picture-perfect alley-oop and a triple. Ryan Arana, Jervy Cruz and Chan also lent big hands, with the latter completing a four-point play and nailing a shotclock-beating triple for that 20-point spread, 1:21 left in the period.
The outcome was a far cry from the way the game started, with the Express racing to a 10-4 lead which they stretched to 16-8 on treys by Graham and Hubalde.
ROS 106 - Cornely 21, Chan 16, Norwood 13, Buenafe 11, Lee 9, Cruz 9, Arana 8, Ibanes 8, Matias 4, Tang 3, Belga 2, Quinahan 2.
A21 92 - Graham 37, Hubalde 10, Ritualo 9, Espiritu 8, Menor 8, Omolon 8, Sena 6, Bagatsing 2, Faundo 2, Isip 2, Salamat 0, Sison 0, Escobal 0.
QS: 23-22, 53-46, 84-68, 106-92
 |
| Jeff Chan continued his hot shooting as ROS snagged its third win in a row. (image by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com) |
 |
| Gabe Norwood shows his hops by rising over Paolo Hubalde. |
 |
| Paolo Hubalde was the lone local who played well for the Air21 Express. (image by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com) |
*Source: Unless otherwise specified, game recaps were compressed and compiled from PBA.ph.
**Unless otherwise specified, all images are by Paul Ryan Tan/InterAKTV.com
0 Comment