 |
| Larry Fonacier and the Texters shot the lights out against the B-Meg Llamados in Game 4. |
Amid the din of the NBA Playoffs, let’s not forget that a rock ‘em sock ‘em showdown for the Commissioner’s Cup is happening right in our backyard! Nearly 19,000 fans trooped to the SMART Araneta Coliseum to witness Game 4 between TNT and B-Meg. 19,000!!!
Wow.
And the best part?
They all got to see TNT’s Pamboy Raymundo plant not one, but TWO cheap shots – one each for Josh Urbiztondo and Joe Devance! And with the Texters already up big with less than two minutes to go!!!
Some people in the B-Meg camp believe Raymundo wouldn’t have done it unless he was instructed to do so.
Wow.
You want drama, kids? Game 5 is on Wednesday. Lock your TV sets to AKTV and hide the remote. This is where real drama happens.
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over B-MEG LLAMADOS, 100-85
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters served notice that they’re not giving up their Commissioner’s Cup crown easily, fashioning a 100-85 rout the B-MEG Llamados in Game Four of the finals Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum before a crowd of 18,696 fans, the biggest this season for the PBA.
After being burned by Llamados wingmen James Yap and Peter June Simon earlier in the best-of-seven series, their Tropang Texters counterparts, Jared Dillinger, Ryan Reyes, and Larry Fonacier, keyed the most lopsided result of the finals yet.
Dillinger and Reyes combined for 23 points in the first half to a 47-35 lead. Talk ‘N Text pushed the lead to as much as 19 points in the third quarter, quelling repeated rallies by B-MEG.
Dillinger and Fonacier led four other players in double-figures for Talk ‘N Text with 18 points apiece, while Reyes scored all nine of his points in the first half. Dillinger added five rebounds and four assists.
Yap scored for 14 points, but shot just 1-of-9 from the three-point line. Simon had an even more miserable outing, getting off just 5 shots from the field. His first field goal came with just 4:03 left in the game.
Things. However, took a strange turn late in the game, with 1:47 left and Talk ‘N Text leading, 96-81. Pamboy Raymundo elbowed Josh Urbiztondo on a pick, causing the B-MEG guard to react.
In the scrum, Joe Devance threw the ball at Raymundo, who responded by hitting the Llamados forward on the back of his head.
The officials took a few minutes to sort out the situation, calling two penalty one flagrant fouls on Raymundo, leading to his ejection. Devance was also called for a flagrant foul penalty two and was also sent off, while Urbiztondo was called for a technical foul.
The scuffle led to B-MEG coach Tim Cone exchanging words with members of the Talk ‘N Text coaching staff. A couple of plays later, Cone fell to the floor after getting hit inadvertently by referee Art Herrera. Cone stormed off the court with still a little over a minute left.
After a monster performance in Game Three, Denzel Bowles also had a quiet outing with just 17 points for B-MEG.
TNT 100 – Dillinger 18, Fonacier 18, Castro 15, Harvey 14, Alapag 12, De Ocampo 10, Reyes 9, Carey 4, Raymundo 0, Gamalinda 0, Williams 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0, Peek 0.
BML 85 – Bowles 17, Devance 17, Urbiztondo 15, Yap 14, Intal 8, Simon 5, Pingris 4, Reavis 4, Barroca 1, Acuna 0, Gaco 0, Burtscher 0, Villanueva 0, De Ocampo 0.
QS: 25-24, 47-35, 73-60, 100-85
 |
| Jared Dillinger stepped up to lead TNT to the series-tying Game 4 win. |
 |
| Joe Devance and the Llamados failed to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. |
On a separate note, congratulations are in order.
Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa was named the Best Player of the Conference, while B-Meg’s Denzel Bowles was adjudged Best Import.
 |
| Denzel Bowles and Mark Caguioa were feted with the conference's major player awards. |
Mark Caguioa normed 16.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1 steal per game for the Gin Kings. He led them to the tournament semifinals before getting hit in the eye and, consequently, being unable to play the rest of the way. Had he been healthy, the Kings would’ve probably made the Finals in lieu of the Llamados.
For his part, Bowles has averaged 25.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 21 games so far. He has been the rock that the Llamados sorely need down low, and he has been mighty consistent. He now has a chance to give coach Tim Cone his first title with a team other than the Alaska Aces.
I, for one, think Bowles also merits consideration as our naturalized import for Smart-Gilas 2.0. That doesn’t mean Marcus Douthit is no longer needed (he’s still plenty good, mind you), but Bowles brings a lot of what Marcus does, AND he’s just 22 years old. Or, of course, we could still go the Javale McGee route.
Source: Game recap was compressed and compiled from InterAKTV.com
0 Comment