PBA: Texters claim crucial 3-2 lead against Aces

The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters relied on their steady shooting and offensive rebounding to claim Game 5 of their best-of-seven Philippine Cup semifinals series against the Alaska Aces, 99-95, on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Aces, who on the prior possession completed a stop with eight seconds to go, had an opportunity to tie the game with the score at 98-95, but 2012 second overall pick Calvin Abueva turned the ball over. Forced to foul, Jayson Castro, nailed a charity to make it a four-point affair, handing the victory to the Tropang Texters.

[Review the play-by-play of this game here]

“They make adjustments as the series goes on,” said Talk ‘N Text head coach Norman Black. “We need to execute as well as we did today if we want to make it to the Finals.”

The Tropang Texters were to create much separation against a pesky Alaska squad that kept on clawing back from double-digit deficits.

“They actually beat us in the elimination round,” Black said. “They beat a team [Meralco Bolts, in the quarterfinals] that was pretty good so they must be pretty good also. They have a lot of young guys who have a lot of fight.”
 
Alaska started the game with a 10-2 run. Jvee Casio, Mac Baracael, Sonny Thoss, and Cyrus Baguio contributed to Alaska’s first 10 points while the Tropang Texters only had a reverse lay-up from Jared Dillinger to show for. The Tropang Texters refused to fall behind though as they found their footing in the latter part of the first quarter. Ryan Reyes scored five straight points, the last of which came on a lay-in with 59 seconds left in the quarter.

Talk ‘N Text scored on a free throw as Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo was called for a technical foul for complaining about a no-call on Calvin Abueva to end the quarter tied at 20-all.
 
The second half was all about the Tropang Texters establishing their offense through Ranidel de Ocampo. The rugged big man scored 11 points in the quarter to help the Tropang Texters regain the lead. Larry Fonacier sank a three with 32 seconds left in the half and Jayson Castro went coast-to-coast just before the halftime buzzer sounded for a 55-43 Talk ‘N Text lead.
 
The Tropang Texters fell into early penalty in the third quarter, getting their sixth team foul with still eight minutes left in the period. RJ Jazul connected with two free throws to cut TNT lead to 11 at 63-52, however, the Aces were not able to capitalize further as they allowed Harvey Carey to score on jumpers to stretch the lead for the Tropang Texters.

Up eight heading into the fourth, Talk n' Text went on a 6-0 run early in the fourth to erect a 12-point lead after a Ryan Reyes drive, 88-76, with 8:55 to go.
 
Alaska responded with its own run, thanks to a three from RJ Jazul and a pair of Gabby Espinas free throws to cut the deficit to eight. Four points from Ali Peek plus a pair of free throws from Jimmy Alapag however made it a 12-point game anew.
 
A Jvee Casio three followed by an Abueva drive had Alaska creeping closer, 95-88, but Kelly Williams would counter at the other end with two and a half minutes to go.
 
Abueva made it a seven-point game from the line with 2:14 to go, before Dondon Hontiveros hit a free three to cut the lead to four, 97-93.
 
Talk 'N Text went to Williams for a drive with 42 seconds remaining. The former PBA MVP was fouled and split form the line. With 37 seconds to go, Espinas answered with an offensive rebound and a basket after a Hontiveros miss, 98-95.
 
In Talk n' Text's final play, Ryan Reyes drove to the lane only to dish to Ranidel De Ocampo at the end. De Ocampo's shot went short, leaving Alaska 12.1 seconds to tie the game.

Off the inbounds, the Aces went to Abueva, who dribbled the ball off himself to give Talk n' Text the ball with eight seconds to go. The Aces fouled Castro to stop the clock, where "The Blur" connected on a free throw to make it a four-point game.

With 6.3 left on the game clock, the Aces went to Baguio for a three that hit the back rim to hand the Texters the victory.
 
“We played our game,” said Ryan Reyes who was named as the Best Player of the Game with 15 points and two assists. “We passed the ball and found the open man. We pick each other up and we motivate each other.”

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters will now have two opportunities to beat the Alaska Aces and give themselves a shot at winning their third straight Philippine Cup championship. Still, Black and the rest of his players are not about to rest on their laurels.

“I’ve been here long enough to know not to take teams for granted,” said Black. Their first shot to finish this series will be on January 4 at the Cuneta Astrodome. - Carlo Pamintuan / Renee Fopalan, GMA News