PBA Roundup: Feb. 17, 2012

Jimmy Alapag and the Texters managed to evade
defeat at the hands of the Bolts.

*Unless otherwise specified, all images are by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com

TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over MERALCO BOLTS, 102-96 (OT)

He looks overweight, appears slow on his feet, and definitely not a high leaper.

That was Omar Samhan, Talk ‘N Text’s import, for you.

Somehow, after missing his first nine shots, Samhan fought his way back to get the job done. The defending champion’s deceiving reinforcement scored six points in overtime, and Talk ‘N Text kept intact its mastery of sister-team Meralco, grinding out a 102-96 win at the start of its title defense of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Samhan went 9-of-14 from the field since his 0-of-9 start, finishing with 24 points, 20 rebounds and 4 blocked shots as the Tropang Texters extended their winning run against the Bolts to five games ever since the Meralco franchise was accepted to the PBA family last season.

Jimmy Alapag added 14 points and 9 assists, Jayson Castro contributed 13 points and 6 assists, and Kelly Williams tossed in 12 points and 12 rebounds for Talk ‘N Text, which played without guard Ryan Reyes due to a left quad injury.

Jarrid Famous led Meralco with 28 points, but had none in overtime. Mark Cardona added 25 and Chris Ross tossed in 19 points and a career-high 13 assists and 5 steals.

TNT 102 - Samhan 24, Alapag 14, Castro 13, Williams 12, Dillinger 10, Fonacier 10, De Ocampo 9, Peek 6, Aguilar 4, Carey 0.

MER 96 - Famous 28, Cardona 25, Ross 19, Hugnatan 10, Borboran 6, Espinas 5, Aljamal 2, Taulava 1, Timberlake 0, Macapagal 0, Artadi 0.

QS: 19-22, 45-42, 68-68, 92-92, 102-96.

Jarrid Famous (L) started strong and faded in the end, while
Omar Samhan (R) was able to redeem himself in the endgame.

Chris Ross's 19 points were in vain as Meralco
lost to TNT.

POWERADE TIGERS over RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS, 122-120

Powerade, the Philippine Cup’s Cinderalla team, is not yet done pulling off surprises. Though in a difficult situation, the Tigers got off to a triumphant start in the PBA

Commissioner’s Cup, fighting back from a 17-point deficit and nipping the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

The Tigers put on display the very character they built in their breakthrough showing in the recent all-Filipino tourney, squeezing out a stirring win they dedicated to former boss JB Baylon. Dwayne Jones imposed his 6-foot-11 frame to collect 34 points and 21 rebounds while David sizzled with a 7-of-12 three-point shooting and a total of 32 points as the Tigers pulled another one against the Elasto Painters.

Jvee Casio and Marcio Lassiter also made impact with the former creating key plays and the latter coming through with big defensive stops in the crunch as the Elasto Painters topped the same team they beat in seven games in the semifinal round in the Philippine Cup. Casio scored all of his 14 points in the second half and completed a double-double game with a career-high 13 assists, including the dish that let David bang away the deciding three-pointer with 13.7 seconds left to play.

POW 122 - Jones 34, David 32, Casio 14, Lassiter 13, Calimag 11, Anthony 9, Vanlandingham 6, Allera 3, Martinez 0, Lingganay 0, Kramer 0, Cruz 0, Adducul 0.

ROS 120 - Crews 23, Norwood 16, Chan 13, Arana 13, Quinahan 12, Cruz 10, Belga 9, Lee 8, Buenafe 7, Ibanes 7, Matias 2.

QS: 24-33, 50-59, 83-94, 122-120