B-MEG trips injury-riddled Talk 'N Text, moves closer to Top 2 finish

B-MEG survived Talk 'N Text's blistering fourth-quarter fightback for a 114-104 win Tuesday night as the Llamados positioned themselves for a possible top two finish entering the playoffs of the PBA Philippine Cup.

 

The Llamados squandered an early 16-point lead and suddenly found themselves trailing the defending champions, 80-76, early in the final quarter.

 

But B-MEG recovered just in time, outplaying their injury-depleted opponent in the final 10 minutes of play to complete the win before a crowd of 10,019 at the Araneta Coliseum.

 

"We just didn't panic," said B-MEG coach Tim Cone on the Llamados' near meltdown after enjoying a 47-31 lead midway in the second quarter.

 

It was B-MEG's sixth straight win for an 8-4 record for solo third as the Llamados shadow the Tropang Texters (8-3) in the standings. Talk 'N Text dropped its second straight match. James Yap showed the way for B-MEG with 27 points. His three-pointer early in the fourth tied the game at 82-all, before the Llamados went on a 10-2 exchange to take control of the match for good, 94-84, with seven minutes and 20 seconds left in the game.

 

Talk 'N Text threatened for the last time at 98-94 with 4:54 to go, only for B-MEG to counter with a 10-1 run for a 108-95 spread.

 

Kerby Raymundo added 20 points for the Llamados while Josh Urbiztondo also had a big game with 14 markers.  

Jimmy Alapag was finally reactivated from the injury list and scored 15 for the Texters, who again missed the services of injured players Ryan Reyes, Ali Peek, Aaron Aban and Jared Dillinger.

 

Harvey Carey led the reigning All-Filipino Cup titlists with 25 points and Jason Castro added 18. — JVP/KG, GMA News