2014 PBA Governors’ Cup: Chan and Alapag find their marks as ROS and TNT record separate victories!

Top: Arizona Reid led the Painters to a big win over Barako Bull.
Bottom: The Tropang Texters remained in the top four after defeating San Miguel Beer.

First Game:
Jeff Chan is having a much much better time shooting the basketball in this conference, and he showed it here. His clutch baskets gave the Rain or Shine Elasto-Painters enough breathing room to carve out a tight win over Barako Bull, 96-93. Chan shot 5/6 from the field, including 2 triples, to score 15 points, which was the highest from any local player. Prior to the Govs’ Cup, the Gilas Pilipinas sniper was norming just 11.4 points per game on 39% FG shooting, including making just 33% of his threes. In the current conference, however, the Bacolod native is scoring and shooting much better — 13.4ppg on 52% FG shooting and 46% 3pt-shooting.

Siot Tangquincen has got to love the fact Barako Bull ruled the glass here, outrebounding ROS, 60-37. That’s a 23-rebound difference! Eric Wise led the way with 19 boards, while five other Energy Cola players grabbed 5 or more. The thing is, this was offset by the fact Barako Bull turned the ball over 18 times (they forced just 6 from ROS0 and shot only 38% from the floor (while allowing ROS to make 46% of their FGs). Siot’s crew was +9 in FG attempts, but -3 in makes. They allowed the Painters to score 21 points-off-turnovers and 22 fastbreak points. Yikes.

I feel for Wise: Eric Wise has been one of the most impressive imports this conference. It’s just a pity he’s on the Barako Bull Energy Cola’s roster. Had he been playing for SMC, TNT, or some other more hyped team, he’d be a Best import frontrunner. Wise is currently averaging 31.2 points, 14.4 rebounds, 4.2 asssists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field. His player efficiency rating is a mind-boggling 60.7 EFF!!! Of course, it also helps if one’s team wins, and, well, let’s just say Barako Bull hasn’t been winning.

Second Game:
He wasn’t the top-scorer in this game, but, boy, did Jimmy Alapag come up HUGE in the fourth quarter. Alapag scored 12 of his 18 points, including a pair of big threes, in the payoff period as the Tropang Texters kept their heads above water to beat San Miguel Beer, 103-97. Alapag hit 5 treys in all while also hauling down 6 rebounds and handing out 3 assists. All of his 8 field goal attempts were from beyond the arc. Talk about chutzpah.

It all really came down to three-point shooting. Both teams made exactly 38 field goals, but TNT made twice the number of threes SMB did. The Texters nailed 14 triples in this game, with Alapag, Rodney Carney, Jayson Castro, and Larry Fonacier each hitting at least 2 threes. In contrast, The Beermen made just 7 from long range, with import Reggie Williams connecting on 4 of those.

Carney not Corny: After a so-so debut, Rodney Carney impressed this time around. Carney shot 8/14 from 2-point range and made 3 triples on his way to 28 points and 7 rebounds. Sure, he didn’t really do much else, but on a loaded team like Talk N Text, an import doesn’t have to dominate in every category. Richard Howell didn’t score a ton but grabbed the rebounds last conference, and, this time around, Carney is here to score and leave the dirty work to his teammates.

Game recaps by Rey Joble/InterAKTV:

RAIN OR SHINE over BARAKO BULL, 96-93

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters used a late finishing kick to carve out a tough 96-93 win over Barako Bull on Saturday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum

“Barako Bull has been really tough, their record does not really show how good this team is,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“They’ve been giving teams a hard time. They stretched SMB to overtime, we just probably had a little bit more experience as a team, and that has been put to good use this game. That’s our advantage.”

With the victory, the Elaso Painters improved their record in the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup to 2-3. Barako Bull suffered its fourth straight defeat in the tournament for a 1-4 slate.

“We can’t be ambitious, if we can be at the 50 percent mark, then we can be a little bit more optimistic, then see how the teams are in the standings and try to win every game after that,” said Guiao.

“Ngayon, nag-sa-struggle pa rin kami, we haven’t reached our peak performance, pahirapan talaga every game sa amin.”

Rain or Shine was in control for most of the game, even as Barako Bull stayed within striking distance. Led by import Eric Wise, Barako Bull finally took control in the final period, opening up an 83-77 lead.

Barako Bull was still up, 90-85, before Rain or Shine unleashed a 9-0 run. Jeff Chan’s free throws capped the assault to give the Elasto Painters a 94-90 advantage with 1:11 left.

Mick Pennisi struck back with quickly a three-pointer to pull Barako Bull within one, 94-93.

After a Gabe Norwood miss on the other end, Barako Bull had a pair of chances to grab the lead, but Jeric Fortuna and JC Intal both missed.

That led to an easy layup for Chan that pushed the Rain or Shine edge back to three points, 96-93.

Barako Bull had a final shot at tying the game, but Willie Miller’s attempt over Gabe Norwood at the buzzer hit back iron.

Import Arizona Reid finished with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists to lead the Elasto Painters.

Wise led Barako Bull with a tournament-high 41 points.

ROS 96 – Reid 34, Chan 15, Lee 12, Uyloan 8, Belga 8, Norwood 7, Almazan 4, Arana 3, Cruz 2, Rodriguez 2, Tiu 1, Tang 0, Nuyles 0, Teng 0.
BAR 93 – Wise 41, Fortuna 14, Jensen 10, Pennisi 9, Intal 5, Wilson 4, Miller 3, Marcelo 3, Lastimosa 2, Labagala 2, Thiele 0, Buenafe 0.
QS: 26-27, 49-46, 76-72, 96-93

Beau Belga flexes his baby-fat-biceps as he winds up for this free throw attempt.

Chris Tiu is still not 100%, but he'll continue to play hard for ROS.

Arizona Reid (center) tangles with Eric Wise and JC Intal in the paint.

TALK N TEXT over SAN MIGUEL BEER, 103-97

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers woke The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters held off the San Miguel Beermen down the stretch for a 103-97 victory on Saturday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The win improved the Tropang Texters’ standing to 3-1 while snapping the three-game winning run of the Beermen, who dropped to 3-2.

“Good thing for us to stay in the top four,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black.

Jimmy Alapag delivered the biggest blows for Talk ‘N Text, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the final period.

“Alapag hit some big shots,” said Black.

Back-to-back three-pointers from the Tropang Texters’ team captain pushed the Talk ‘N Text lead to six, 91-85.

Several moments later, another three-pointer from Alapag gave his squad a 99-92 advantage.

But San Miguel Beer came charging back behind import Reggie Williams, who nailed two free throws with 22.1 seconds left to put his team within a single basket, 99-97.

Ranidel De Ocampo’s free throws gave Talk ‘N Text more breathing room, 101-97, with 20.6 seconds left.

The Beermen once again went to Williams, but he was foiled at the ring by Noy Baclao, preserving the Talk ‘N Text win.

Talk ‘N Text drew a much better game from import Rodney Carney, who finished with 28 points after scoring just 13 in his debut. Castro added 21 points for the Tropang Texters.

“We got what we wanted from our import,” said Black. “Locals really stepped up and supported him.”

Williams finished with 33 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists, while June Mar Fajardo continued his rampage through the tournament with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

TNT 103 – Carney 28, Castro 21, Alapag 18, Fonacier 8, Baclao 8, Williams 7, De Ocampo 6, Canaleta 5, Reyes Ryan 2, Reyes Rob 0, Carey 0.
SMB 97 – Williams 33, Fajardo 20, Santos 18, Kramer 8, Mercado 7, Tubid 5, Lutz 4, Lanete 2, Maierhofer 0, Duncil 0, Chua 0.
QS: 19-19, 44-38, 76-73, 103-97