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| Ranidel De Ocampo and the rest of TNT snuffed out the Game 1 challenge of Will Antonio and the Tigers. |
*All images from PBA.ph
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over POWERADE TIGERS, 116-100
If this game is any indication of the complexion for this championship series, then perhaps it’s safe to say that the Powerade Tigers have bitten off more than they could chew.
They played their underdog part to the hilt, and never really threatened after the Texters unloaded a torrent of treys in the first half.
Heck, not even Powerade’s David could slay the Goliath that was TNT.
After the JUMP are excerpts from the recap on PBA.ph:
Reigning champion Talk ‘N Text simply outclassed underdog rival Powerade in Game One of the PBA Philippine Cup finale at the Sports, Cultural & Business Center of Davao del Sur.
Looking to become the first team in 27 years to successfully defend the all-Filipino title, the Tropang Texters still showed up with fresh legs coming from their tough Final Four grind, outrunning and outgunning the Tigers for the decisive head start in the best-of-seven titular series.
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| Jared Dillinger and Harvey Carey win the mad scramble for the ball in this piece of action from Game 1. |
The Tropang Texters, who shot 10 of their 13 triples in the first half alone, hardly showed weariness, overwhelming the Tigers with a torrid offense and an efficient defense on Powerade top gun Gary David. TNT sustained a solid game throughout, underscoring its capability to retain the coveted all-Filipino crown.
JV Casio is expected to be back in Game Two, having gotten some time to rest his injured right hamstring.
The Tropang Texters made good use of their deep, talent-laden roster as they stamped their class on the Tigers, setting the tone of the game early. Dominant were the titleholders that they established huge 18-point spreads right in the opening canto and kept control up to the end. They began with a 31-13 tear and hardly slowed down in scoring the impressive win – their fourth straight since staring at a 1-3 deficit in their semis series versus Petron Blaze.
Jason Castro topscored with 23 points with Ryan Reyes, Jarred Dillinger, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo and Ali Peek adding at least 13 points each.
Castro, Reyes, Fonacier, Dillinger and Bambam Galinda were the different defensive faces Talk ‘N Text thrown at David who finished with only 19, his lowest in 10 games in the playoffs thus far.
Sophomore forward Sean Anthony tried to pick up the slack for the Tigers, pacing his team with 23 points.
Fonacier and Reyes combined for 6-of-7 three-point shooting to highlight the Tropang Texters’ torrid offense in the first half.
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| Ryan Reyes had the hot hand in the first half, as TNT erected a sizable lead they would never relinquish. |
Rudy Lingganay and Celino Cruz, who rotated at the point minus Casio, had tough times handling the pressure. Cruz, for one, committed three errors only in the opening period.
TNT 116 - Castro 23, Reyes 15, Dillinger 15, Fonacier 14, De Ocampo 14, Peek 13, Alapag 9, Aguilar 6, Carey 4, Williams 3, Gamalinda 0, Raymundo 0.
POW 100 - Anthony 23, David 19, Lassiter 19, Lingganay 13, Kramer 12, Cruz 4, Antonio 3, Vanlandingham 3, Adducul 2, Crisano 2, Allera 0.
QS: 38-21, 68-52, 96-81, 116-100
Source: Game recap was compressed and compiled from PBA.ph
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