Talk ‘N Text fires 14 triples to edge San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines – The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters lit up from deep on Saturday, May 31 on their way to trampling the San Miguel Beermen, 103-97, in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup.

Jimmy Alapag led the three-point barrage and was on fire no matter which spot he decided to release from as long as he was beyond the arc.

After a quiet first 3 quarters, the veteran Alapag came alive in the fourth with 12 of his 18 points – most of which he collected on his 5-of-8 shooting from rainbow country with a 3-of-3 clip from the stripe. He also collared 6 rebounds.

“Jimmy Alapag hit some big shots for us down the stretch that really helped us get some separation,” TNT head coach Norman Black commended his veteran player. “He made a big difference in the game.”

Alapag’s triples were instrumental for the Texters to escape the vise-like grip of the Beermen in the fourth.

Before the last frame, San Miguel and Talk ‘N Text kept within striking distance of each other – never quite able to break the game wide open.

The last deadlock came at 85-all on a Reggie Williams turnaround jumper with 7:26 left. That’s when the 36-year old Alapag went loose with a pair of long bombs from both wings, which allowed the Texters to shake off the pesky Beermen, 91-85, with 6:07 to go.

But Arwind Santos, who came up with 18 points on 7-of-12 field goals for San Miguel, scored 4 straight points to keep it close, 91-89.

A timely Ranidel de Ocampo (6 points) lay-in pushed the Texters back up once again before San Miguel committed one of their 17 turnovers.

Then Alapag again tried to feed a long one to the net, which didn’t go in that time but resulted to him earning his 3 points from the line, 96-89, as he was fouled taking the shot.

Ronald Tubid joined Alapag’s party with a trey of his own right after but Alapag was a man possessed as he swished in his 5th three-pointer from the corner, 99-92, with 2:19 remaining.

Good execution escaped San Miguel towards the end with missed attempts by Santos and Williams, who still ended up with 33 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists.

“We just have to continue to try to play good defense and to try to beat the teams that are at the top,” Black said.

Apart from Alapag, Jayson Castro (21 points) and import Rodney Carney (28 points) had 3 triples apiece. Larry Fonacier wasn’t lost in the mix as well with two triples for his 8 points, and so was KG Canaleta with a long one, which was a go-ahead basket early in fourth, 83-81.

Everything was clicking for Talk ‘N Text offensively that even their 13 assists compared to San Miguel’s 23 were overshadowed.

Both teams also fed off each other’s turnovers with San Miguel getting the upper hand, 24-19.

The Beermen also ran fluidly tonight to get 27 points off the break.

“This is a good win for us to stay within the top 4,” said Black as his team climbed to 3-1.

San Miguel, meanwhile, fell to 3-2.

Scores:

TALK N’ TEXT (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.

SAN MIGUEL BEER (97) – Williams 33, Fajardo 20, Santos 18, Kramer 8, Mercado 7, Tubid 5, Lutz 4, Lanete 2, Maierhofer 0, Duncil 0, Chua 0.

Quarter scores: 19-19, 44-38, 76-73, 103-97.

– Rappler.com