PBA Philippine Cup: Texters seek 2-0 series lead; Boosters try to equalize

Petron may have lost Game 1 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series opposite defending champion Talk 'N Text. But that loss doesn't take away the Boosters' swagger. "We played terrible but we nearly win the game," said Petron forward Arwind Santos, referring to Game One's 87-83 outcome Thursday when the Boosters rallied back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit. The Tropang Texters actually, didn't put the game away until former Rookie of the Year Larry Fonacier sank the final two of his 11 fourth-quarter points from the foul line with 18.9 seconds left for the marginal score. "It was a very disappointing way to close out the game," said Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes. And so as the Tropang Texters go for a 2-0 lead Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, the Boosters exactly know the kind of adjustments they need to do in order to even things up in their best-of-seven series. "Almost half of Talk 'N Text’s scores came from easy baskets," said Petron coach Ato Agustin. "We have to do better next time." Agustin said it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to exactly point out what cost the Boosters the victory. They had less second chance points against the reigning champions, 18-6, and were plastered for 18 markers out of their 13 turnovers. Reyes appears resigned to the fact that his team was fortunate enough to run away with the win. "All it gives us is a head-start in the series," he said. "You saw how the game (Game One) was played and that is how it's going to be for the rest of the series." But one good thing that came out of Talk 'N Text's victory was the significant playing time given to big men Ali Peek and Ranidel de Ocampo, both of whom are coming off the injured list. Unfortunately for the Tropang Texters, floor leader Jimmy Alapag remains a doubtful starter for the team after complaining of pain in his left shoulder blade shortly after Game 1.   Alapag, the reigning league MVP, has yet to fully recover from a severe ankle sprain that kept him out of action for the most part of the All-Filipino tournament. — JVP, GMA News