PBA: Talk 'N Text survives slugfest with Alaska in OT

(Updated 8:19pm) Despite surrendering a nine-point lead in regulation, the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters dumped the Alaska Aces in overtime, 114-111, in the PLDT MyDSL 2014 Philippine Cup, Thursday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Texters improved to 2-1, while Alaska lost their second straight game and dropped to 1-3.

Talk 'N Text was in control for most of the game, until a late fourth quarter surge allowed Alaska to tie the game on a Jvee Casio three-pointer on the Aces' final possession in regulation, 103-103.

TNT was the first team to score on consecutive possessions in overtime as a Jimmy Alapag trey followed a Jayson Castro and-one, swinging the lead in the Texters' favor, 112-108. Dondon Hontiveros though replied with his second trey of extra time to draw within one, 112-111, a minute and change left.

The Aces gunned for the lead with under 30 seconds left, but Cyrus Baguio's floater in the lane fell short. Talk 'N Text secured the loose ball and called timeout with 22 ticks remaining. Alaska managed to swipe the ball though, forcing TNT to intentionally foul Hontiveros to prevent the easy basket. Uncharacteristically, the Cebuano Hotshot missed both, as Kelly Williams snatched the ball out of the air and was consequently fouled with 14 seconds to go.

Williams split from the line, 113-111, and the Aces took their final timeout. Alaska isolated Casio at the top of the key but his layup attempt didn't fall through the net. The rebound went to Harvey Carey, who was fouled and split from the line, missing the second. Casio had one last chance to force a second extra period, but his final 30-foot heave grazed only the net.

"It was one of the games we just gutted out and had to be a good team. We were struggling to get our rhythm back, but I'm happy for my guys and they didn't give up," said TNT head coach Norman Black, who was visibly relieved to escape with the victory.

"We'll just take this victory tonight and enjoy it, and get ready for our next game," said Black.

Black also said he was "pretty sure" that former Barako Bull Danny Seigle would suit up for the Texters against GlobalPort next week. "I'm not sure who'll we'll bring down to the reserve list, but he looks fit," said Black. The TNT mentor added that some on the current roster were playing hurt, though he said he couldn't publicly discuss the extent of their injuries. Between lingering health issues and the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Cup campaign after the season wraps up, Black said he'd need all the healthy bodies he can get.

Jasyon Castro led all scorers with 33 points, a new career-high, plus five rebounds and four assists. Jimmy Alapag added 20 points and five assists as well. Larry Fonacier had 18 points and six rebounds, while Harvey Carey hustled for 15 points and seven boards.

The first quarter was an up-tempo affair, as players took advantage of defenses on both sides that were a step slow. The Texters built up a seven-point lead near the end of the first frame, before Cyrus Baguio nailed a trey to end the quarter, 28-24.

Baguio's buzzer-beater gave the Aces some momentum early in the second, as Alaska overtook TNT after a Jvee Casio triple, 32-30. But Talk 'N Text quickly regrouped and looked to do damage in the lane. Back-to-back and-ones by Jimmy Alapag and Larry Fonacier spurred the Texters to a 12-3 run, 42-35.

Alaska clung on behind Gabby Espinas' efforts, as the former PCU Dolphin scored at the rim despite heavy contact against the Texters' frontline. The Aces eventually regained the lead as their perimeter support revved up anew, 44-42, as Casio streaked to the hoop for a layup.

Still, the Texters had the final say at the half as Sean Anthony drew a controversial foul on a layup attempt, and made both charities to knot the game at 48-48. The Aces had two seconds to inbound the ball but hurled the ball out of bounds, allowing TNT to trigger the ball from beneath their baseline. The Texters shot a pass to Jayson Castro, who sank a midrange hoop to lift them up by two at halftime.


TNT was locked in defensively after the break and the team kept the Aces on the perimeter on most of their possessions. Alaska tied up the score at 56-56 with a left wing jumper, but it would be the closest they would get for a while. Alapag went the other way and replied with a three-pointer. The Mighty Mouse's scoring touch accounted for eight points during a 13-4 stretch, 69-60.

Alaska though found their groove in the last three minutes, as Sonny Thoss, Aldrech Ramos and Casio led a balanced inside-out attack. The trio accounted for an 11-6 run, before Baguio rifled in a shot to beat the quarter buzzer again from beyond the arc, narrowing the gap heading into the fourth period, 75-74.

Alapag and Castro hit a pair of triples while Harvey Carey cut to the hoop as TNT tried to ward off Alaska in the fourth quarter. Alaska rode a feisty Calvin Abueva, who scored six of their first eight points. However, Abueva fouled out with four minutes gone in the period, forcing Alaska to look for other options as they trailed, 87-82.

The Texters were unable to patch up their interior defense as Espinas and Thoss barged into the lane for buckets. Ramos splashed another triple, followed by Casio charities off a turnover, to give Alaska their first lead of the game, 93-91, with four minutes to play.

Castro replied with an and-one and almost singlehandedly kept TNT afloat by scoring eight of their next 10 points. In turn, Alaska pressed on with Thoss, who tallied four of their next seven, while trailing 101-100.

Alaska flubbed a chance to pull ahead with a minute and a half left as Ramos missed two charities. It was a costly opportunity as Williams converted a layup, but missed the bonus charity, to stake a three-point lead. The Aces muffed their next offensive possession but caught another break as the Texters committed a backcourt violation. Alaska called their final timeout with 28 seconds remaining.

The ball found its way to Casio, who buried a three-pointer from the left wing to knot the tally at 103-apiece. The Texters then burned their final timeout with 17 seconds on the clock. Castro let the clock run before attempting a game winner in the lane, which Carey tried to tip in, but the referees ruled it didn't come in time, forging the OT.

TNT won despite shooting at a lower percentage, making 41-of-93 (44.1 percent) from the floor against the Aces' 39-of-79 (49.4 percent) clip.  The Texters also led in fast break points, 15-2.

Alaska won on the boards (53-48) and assists tally (28-17).

Aldrech Ramos led Alaska with 20 points and seven rebounds, leading seven Aces in double-digit scoring. Sonny Thoss had a double-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Dondon Hontiveros and Calvin Abueva added 15 points and 14 points, respectively, and combined for 11 rebounds. JVee Casio posted a balanced stat line with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Gabby Espinas and Cyrus Baguio combined for 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Talk 'N Text 114 - Castro 33, Alapag 20, Fonacier 18, Carey 15, Williams 7, Reyes 7, Poligrates 5, Peek 4, Anthony 3, Baclao 2, Celiz 0, Reyes 0

Alaska 111 - Ramos 20, Thoss 16, Hontiveros 15, Abueva 14, Casio 13, Espinas 12, Baguio 10, Jazul 7, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Avenido 0, Buenafe 0

Quarter scoring: 28-24, 50-48, 75-74, 103-103, 114-111