PBA: Abueva, Baguio ejected as Texters grab Game 3

Things got ugly multiple times in Game 3 of the best-of-seven semifinals series between the Talk 'n Text Tropang Texters and the Alaska Aces. As a result, two of the Aces, Calvin Abueva and Cyrus Baguio, were thrown out of the ball game. The Aces lost their focus with the physicality coupled with the frustration on the referees' calls which, allowed the Tropang Texters to score a 93-79 victory Wednesday, at the SM MOA Arena, putting them up 2-1.

Kelly Williams played a tremendous all-around game by scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo lit it up from downtown, combining for six triples in the ball game to help the Tropang Texters bounce back from their Game 2 defeat.

[Check out the play-by-play of this game here]

Abueva was ejected at the 6:45 mark of the fourth quarter after being called for a flagrant foul after hitting a streaking Jayson Castro on the neck. The hot-shot rookie from San Sebastian had already been called for a technical foul in the third quarter, which caused his ejection. Less than a minute later, Baguio joined Abueva in the dugout as he connected with a brutal forearm to Jayson Castro's forehead while the speedy Talk 'N Text guard was going for a fastbreak lay-up. The Aces were never the same following the ejections, as they repeatedly turned the ball over, while allowing the Tropang Texters to score unmolested baskets.

Even if the Talk 'N Text offense was clicking on all cylinders, it was their defense that won them the game according to head coach Norman Black.

"I thought our defense was much better today," Black said. "We executed well on defense, which disrupted them." The Tropang Texters forced the Aces into 16 turnovers while only having 13 on their part. They also limited the Aces to 40.8 percent shooting from the field.

Even if his team just got out of a comfortable win, Black still believes that the series is a far from being done:

"It's going to be a long series," Black said. "I expect things to be physical in the coming games and we just have to be ready for it. Both teams are very competitive and neither team will back down. Hopefully we can just stay focused on basketball."

Williams carried the offense for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters early in the first quarter. The athletic Fil-Am strung together five quick points early in the game to help his team get a 7-5 advantage. However, the Aces went on a 6-0 run thanks  to Gabby Espinas and Cyrus Baguio. Before things got out of hand for the Tropang Texters, Williams again scored on a three-point play at the 6:45 mark of the first canto to trim the Alaska lead to one, 11-10.

Alaska ended the quarter strongly with triples from Baguio and RJ Jazul for a 19-14 lead going into the second period. The Aces shot 3-of-4 from long range in the opening quarter, while the Tropang Texters failed to get a three-point basket in seven tries. Williams led the Tropang Texters with eight points in the first with Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, and Ali Peek adding a basket each. The Aces, on the other hand, had a more balanced attack with five players scoring three or more points.

In the second period, Williams kept up his hot shooting, but it was Fonacier who scored the most points for the Tropang Texters. The former Ateneo King Eagle dropped 11 markers in the second, including his first three-point conversion of the series to give Talk 'N Text a 39-34 lead at the half. After blanking from downtown in the first quarter, the Tropang Texters made three in the second. It was also Alaska's turn to come up empty from deep. Williams added five more points to equal his total in Game 2 of the series.

TNT entered the third quarter wanting to break the game wide open. A Fonacier three-point shot at the 9:11 mark gave the Tropang Texters their first double digit lead, 48-36, but Baracael kept the Aces within striking distance by completing a rare four-point play a minute later.