PBA: Yeo go-ahead basket keys in Air21 upset over defending champs Talk 'N Text

(Updated 8:20pm) Joseph Yeo nailed the go-ahead drive with 35 seconds to go, as the Air21 Express tripped the defending conference champions Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, 102-100, and staved off elimination in the PLDT MyDSL 2014 PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 has now won two of their last three games, and despite a 3-9 record, is just a game behind a five-team logjam at the fourth to ninth spots. TNT though has lost two of their last three, 7-4.

Asi Taulava, a former Tropang Texter, backboned the Express' comeback win with 23 points and 18 rebounds, his seventh double-double this season.

"Asi gave us a big lift. He started really strong, and the whole time he really dominated the paint," said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren. "Looking at his stats, it's like looking at Asi five, eight years ago."

Down by seven, Air21 took advantage of a two-possession stretch without Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel De Ocampo on the floor, 97-96, after a KG Canaleta trey and a Yeo layup. Then after a series of empty possessions, Yeo attacked early in the shot clock and drew an and-one inside, 99-97, forcing the Texters to call for time. TNT moved the ball and found a wide-open Ranidel De Ocampo on the right wing, but his three-pointer rolled out of the hoop. Custodio tracked the ball down and was intentionally fouled, and converted both for the Express.

TNT called timeout anew with 13 seconds left, and after the ball fell out of bounds after another De Ocampo missed trey, Jayson Castro finally scored from deep, 101-100, with 3.4 remaining on the clock. Air21 advanced the ball off their own timeout, and the Texters sent Canaleta to the stripe with 2.2 left. Canaleta hit the first and missed the second, but TNT couldn't secure the rebound properly, allowing precious seconds to expire before they could attempt a prayer.

Canaleta and Bonbon Custodio had 16 and 15 points, respectively, and combined for nine rebounds and four assists. Yeo and Ronnie Matias finished the game with 13 points apiece, while Matias added five boards and Yeo dished out 12 assists. Rookie EJ Camson complied 10 markers on a 5-of-6 effort from the field.

"We're still in the hunt," said Pumaren, who expressed confidence that his squad could still make the playoffs. "The good thing about this is our destiny is in our hands. We need to win the next two games to force a tie in the playoffs.

"I think it's the first game that we closed out well and defended well. We have a tendency to give up crucial shots, but we were able to close out in the last few seconds."

The Texters built an early 14-6 lead, courtesy of four three-pointers between Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag. But Talk 'N Text had problems scoring inside, as well as containing former stalwart Asi Taulava's dominance beneath Air21's hoop. Taulava had 11 points in the first quarter and keyed in a 17-2 run, giving Air21 a 23-16 lead.

TNT though closed the half with five straight points, using Danny Seigle's transition layup and a Jai Reyes trey in the final minute to trail 23-21 after the first period.

Air21 continued to have their way inside, as EJ Camson's scrappy play threatened to push the lead to double digits, 36-28. But the Texters soon shored up on defense, plus found looks early in the clock, to narrow the lead to one anew, 39-38, on split charities by Danny Seigle. However, Camson and Taulava countered with six straight to keep a 45-38 advantage.

TNT though were undeterred, getting a long two from Jayson Castro and a Siegle and-one. Castro closed the half with a three-pointer at the buzzer to give his team control, 46-45.


The offense picked up after the break as both teams traded baskets. The Texters though edged ahead, thanks to Nonoy Baclao's scoring off drop passes down low. Baclao figured in a 12-4 run, punctuated by an Alapag drive, 71-64.

KG Canaleta drew a controversial foul off a three-pointer in the last three minutes, allowing him to snap Air21's funk and convert all his attempts from the line. Ranidel De Ocampo and Ronnie Matias one-upped each other until the quarter buzzer, though the Texter remained ahead entering the final period, 77-75.

Bonbon Custodio set up his troops to seize an 84-80 Express lead early in the fourth quarter. The Texters, who were treading water with Castro's solo production, catapulted themselves in front, 88-84, off back-to-back triples from Alapag. Air21, suddenly struggling to score inside, fell behind while De Ocampo directed TNT's offense, and another Alapag triple in transition rewarded them with a 97-91 lead.

Alapag and De Ocampo rested on the bench with under thee minute to play, but it was more than enough time to get the Express back in the game. In the two possessions that followed, Canaleta banked a triple, then Joseph Yeo drove to the hoop, 97-96. TNT quickly called a timeout to allow the pair to re-enter the game.

Both teams traded empty possessions, until Yeo attacked and drew the crucial and-one, 99-97, with 35 seconds left.

Jayson Castro had 21 markers, four rebounds, three assists and a steal to lead TNT, while Jimmy Alapag hit 6-of-12 triples en route to 20 points. He also dished out five dimes. Ranidel De Ocampo compiled 14 markers, eight boards, two assists a steal and a block, while Ryan Reyes and Nonoy Baclao managed 11 points each.

Air21 shot the ball well, going 38-of-73 (52.1 percent) while holding TNT to 33-of-80 (41.3 percent) clip, including just 19-of-47 (40.4 percent) inside the arc. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Air21 102 - Taulava 23, Canaleta 16, Custodio 15, Matias 13, Yeo 13, Camson 10, Manuel 8, Cardona 4, Espiritu 0, Arboleda 0, Sharma 0

Talk 'N Text 100 - Castro 21, Alapag 20, De Ocampo 14, Reyes R. 11, Baclao 11, Seigle 8, Fonacier 6, Anthony 4, Reyes J. 3, Carey 2, Williams 0

Quarter scoring: 23-21, 45-46, 75-77, 102-100