2012 PBA Philippine Cup Roundup: October 5, 2012

Jared Dillinger led the Texters past the Bolts for
their first win in the 2012 Philppine Cup.

The two protagonists in the last year’s most heated Philippine Cup semifinal series both won in their respective opening games, but they did it in contrasting fashion.

The Tropang Texters, steered by interim coach Nash Racela, had to go through the wringer, escaping sister team Meralco in overtime, 112-110. TNT actually had a big lead in the second half, but they squandered it as the Bolts put up a big run behind Gilas 2.0 back-up center Jay-R Reyes.

In the second game, former national team standout Yancy De Ocampo outplayed Gilas 2.0 big man Sonny Thoss. De Ocampo recorded a double-double to be the initial frontrunner in the league’s statistical points ladder.

The Texters take on the Global Port Batang Pier next Friday, while the Mixers mix it up with sister team Petron next Sunday.

Game Recaps:

TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over MERALCO BOLTS, 112-110 (OT)

Nash Racela’s debut as PBA head coach had to go extra innings.

But after 53 minutes, the long-time deputy mentor got the job done, propelling the two-time defending champion Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters to a tense 112-110 victory over the Meralco Bolts Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m relieved,” said Racela, who is pitching in as head coach for Norman Black, who is finishing his coaching stint with Ateneo in the UAAP. “Going to this game, our objective was to win, regardless of what happens. Yun bilin ni Coach Norman.”

In Racela’s first game, Talk ‘N Text squandered a 24-point lead late in the third quarter.

Led by Jay-R Reyes, the Bolts unleashed a crippling 25-4 run . The 6-foot-7 center had six of his team’s last nine points, including a last basket in regulation off a feed by Sol Mercado that sent the game into overtime.

But the Tropang Texters showed their championship poise in the extra period.

Four straight points from Jayson Castro and Jared Dillinger gave the Tropang Texters some headway, 110-109. But a three-pointer by Sol Mercado cut the lead to just a single point.

Meralco sent Castro to the free throw line, before the Talk ‘N Text bench was called for a late technical foul for improper bench decorum. Ronjay Buenafe tied the score with a technical free throw, but Castro hit both foul shots to give his team a two-point lead.

Talk ‘N Text shadowed Mercado into a turnover to escape with the win.

TNT 112 – Dillinger 20, Castro 16, Reyes 12, Williams 11, De Ocampo 11, Carey 11, Peek 10, Raymundo 8, Fonacier 8, Gamalinda 5

MER 110 – Reyes 25, Mercado 20, Hodge 19, Buenafe 18, Salvacion 8, Ross 7, Cardona 7, Hugnatan 6, Belencion 0, Sharma 0

QS: 33-20, 53-43, 86-64, 99-99, 112-110

Ryan Reyes gets clobbered by Meralco
big man Jay-R Reyes.

Cliff Hodge (L) prepares for the tip-off against
TNT's Kelly Williams.

SAN MIG COFFEE MIXERS over ALASKA ACES, 103-83

San Mig Coffee jumped the gun early on Alaska and never looked back, coasting to an easy 103-83 triumph in the PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Mixers shot a steady 64.6 percent from the field (42-of-65), clobbered the Aces off the boards (50 to 37) and dished out more assists (27 to 13), leaving San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone more than satisfied with the win.

“We jumped into them early at a time when they had great expectations. We lost to them twice in the preseason,” said Cone. “They were discouraged with our shooting, we defended well and we moved the ball better. When you have that kind of game, you will end up with a 20-point win.”

Yancy de Ocampo imposed his will inside, finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks while James Yap contributed 20 points despite coming off an injury.

“It’s nice to have a best player of the game aside from James. It’s an indictation that we’re moving the ball better,” added Cone.

“We just got James back yesterday in practice, Ping (Marc Pingris) two days ago, and Joe back a few days ago. We got Joe back tonight and gave him a few minutes, but he needs to lose some weight. He’s a nice weapon for our team.”

The Aces were held to only 30.7 percent shooting from the field (27-of-88) and were outmatched by the Mixers in almost all fronts.

Alaska, which made key additions in the offseason from its coaching staff to its personnel, struggled in their first game without LA Tenorio, the team’s former floor leader.

Tenorio was traded to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a deal that netted the Aces Dondon Hontiveros and JVee Casio. Hontiveros led the way for Alaska with 14 points, but Casio struggled with just three points in his debut with his new team.

SMC 103 – De Ocampo 22, Yap 20, Barroca 16, Simon 16, Ramos 6, Villanueva 6, Pingris 5, Gonzales 4, Reavis 4, Gaco 2, Devance 2, Ponferada 0, Pacana 0

ALA 83 – Hontiveros 14, Baguio 13, Baracael 12, Espinas 12, Dela Cruz 8, Cablay 7, Reyes 6, Thoss 6, Casio 3, Eman 2, Belasco 0

QS: 34-25, 57-42, 75-56, 103-83