PBA: Texters lose big lead, but survive in OT versus Bolts

(Updated 8:31pm) The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters entered the fourth quarter with a 22-point lead. They no doubt feel lucky to have escaped with a two-point win in overtime. Jayson Castro hit a pair of free throws and defended the hot-shooting Sol Mercado on the final play to allow the reigning Philippine Cup champs to escape with a 112-110 overtime win over the Meralco Bolts on Friday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. "I was relieved nanalo kami. Going to this game, our objective is to win. Yun ang bilin ni Coach Norman [Black]. Sabi niya, 'You can do it,' said assistant coach Nash Racela, who is assuming the head coaching duties until the end of the UAAP season, when Black can step in. In a battle of teams owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan, the Meralco Bolts came back from a 24-point third quarter deficit to tie the game with 3.1 seconds left. They then prevented TNT from getting a shot off on the final possession of regulation to tack on five extra minutes. A Ranidel de Ocampo hook and a Larry Fonacier jumper gave TNT their biggest lead in the third period, but electric performances from rookie Cliff Hodge, new starting center Jay-R Reyes, and the veteran Sol Mercado gave the Bolts enough juice to nearly pull off an upset. A pair of free throws from Mac Cardona cut the lead to nine, 97-88, before Reyes got a put-back off Hodge's missed free throws, bringing the lead down to seven with 1:49 remaining. After Cardona forced Ali Peek into an inbounds violation, Reyes hit an elbow jumper, 97-92, as Meralco clamped down on Talk n' Text, resulting in a shotclock violation at the other end. After Mercado missed a three, Reyes grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled on the repossession. The Bolts big man made both to bring the lead down further to two, 99-97, with 37.9 ticks remaining. The Tropang Texters failed to put the game away on their end of the floor, leaving Meralco with a chance to tie or win the game after head coach Ryan Gregoio called a timeout with 13 ticks remaining. In the end, the Bolts went to their bread and butter play, with Mercado driving hard only to drop the ball off to a waiting Reyes right underneath the basket to knot things at 97-all. At the dawn of the extra period, Fonacier drove hard to the basket to give the Texters a slim lead, 101-99, before Buenafe hit a three at the other end to give Meralco its first taste of the lead. Jared Dillinger responded with his own trey at the other end, before Buenafe drove anew to put Meralco back on top. The Bolts continued to take it inside through Meracdo. The guard was fouled on his way to the basket, where he hit his first free throw. Meanwhile, the referees convened at the officials table, and shortly after, the stadium barker announced that Meralco would be slapped with a technical foul for improper bench decorum. Fonacier hit the bonus charity to tie the game at 105, as Mercado missed his second. TNT thought they had the lead for good after back-to-back triples, but after Mercado answered with a three of his own, 111-109, referees announced that one of the earlier triples by the Texters was actually a deuce. That drew a technical foul from Talk 'N Text for improper bench decorum, allowing Ronjay Buenafe to tie the game temporarily at 110-all 14.5 seconds left in OT. Castro then hit two charities to give his side a 112-110 lead. That would be the last one they would need, as Mercado was blanketed by "The Blur" on the other end. Recovering after a near-turnover, Mercado's rushed shot fell short, handing TNT the win. Early on however, it seemed like Talk 'N Text would run away with this one, after jumping out to a commanding 19-4 lead, which they managed to stretch to 25-8, 5:29 left in the first quarter. The entrance of Chris Ross off the bench and a second serving of Jay-R Reyes sparked Meralco though, and they were able to bring their deficit down to 13, 33-20, when the first period buzzer sounded. A triple by Ryan Reyes ballooned TNT's lead back to 18, 40-22, but the trio of Sunday Salvacion, Hodge, and Mercado combined for eight to bring back down to 10, 53-43, at the halftime intermission. Playing without lead point guard Jimmy Alapag, the Tropang Texters still managed to flash their depth. Seven players finished with double-digit scoring for them, and of the 10 players fielded in, each one of them scored at least five markers. Jared Dillinger led the way with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Jayson Castro added 16 markers and five more dimes, while Ryan Reyes chimed in 12 points. Jay-R Reyes compiled a mighty double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds to pace Meralco. Fourth overall pick Cliff Hodge had an auspicious debut, with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists without a single turnover in his 44 minute stint.   - AMD, GMA News The scores: TNT 112 - Dillinger 20, Castro 16, Reyes 12, Williams 11, De Ocampo 11, Carey 11, Peek 10, Raymundo 8, Fonacier 8, Gamalinda 5 MER 110 - Reyes 25, Mercado 20, Hodge 19, Buenafe 18, Salvacion 8, Ross 7, Cardona 7, Hugnatan 6, Belencion 0, Sharma 0 Quarter scoring: 33-20, 53-43, 86-64, 99-99, 112-110