Texters crush Gin Kings for 1-1 slate in PBA's Dubai swing

Talk 'N Text made sure it won't leave Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) largest city, without a win for a souvenir. Behind Maurice Baker and Jimmy Alapag's sizzling hands, the Tropang Texters buried crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra Kings behind an avalanche of three-pointers for a 123-113 win in front of a packed crowd at the Al Shahab Sports Club late Friday night. Baker exploded for 19 points in the opening half, while Alapag, finally healthy after spraining his ankle two weeks ago, went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to help the Texters post a huge 25-point spread late in the second period from which the Kings never recovered. Baker finished with 23 points and Alapag had 20 in the rousing win that erased the memory of Talk 'N Text's 105-111 setback against the B-MEG Llamados Thursday in the first half of the Texters' two-game swing in one of the Middle East's most important economic centers. Following the victory, the Tropang Texters regained the top spot in the PBA Governors Cup with a 4-1 (win-loss) record. In all, Talk 'N Text shot 14-of-38 from three-point range compared to the Kings' woeful 8-of-25 clip. "We lost the game against B-MEG on effort. But (Friday night) we did what we have to do, including the little things. We dived for loose balls, we played good defense and battled for rebounds and shot the ball very well in the first half," said Texters coach Chot Reyes. With Baker and Alapag on fire, Talk 'N Text dropped a 30-8 bomb to zoom to a 62-37 lead midway in the second period. The Tropang Texters enjoyed a 71-55 advantage at the turn. "Had we lost both games, it could possibly lead to a slide. But with the win we felt great tonight," Reyes added. Ryan Reyes shot of 6-of-10 from the field for 17 points while Jason Castro and Harvey Carey added 16 each. Talk 'N Text also pounded Ginebra off the boards, 62-53, as Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo combined for 21 rebounds. Ginebra, egged on by its legions of fans, opened the second half with a 24-12 run to threaten at 79-83 with three minutes left in the third quarter. But a 21-16 exchange - highlighted by Reyes and Alapag's successive three-pointers - kept the rallying Kings at bay, 104-95. Curtis Stinson led all Ginebra scorers with 30 points while Mark Caguiao added 26. - JVP, GMA News