Peek powers Texters to 103-96 win over skidding Tigers

Ali Peek presented Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes with a welcome gift Wednesday night when he led the Tropang Texters to a 103-96 win over the Powerade Tigers in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. Reyes was back on the Talk 'N Text bench following a three-week stint as assistant coach to Philippine Smart-Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Against an undersized Tigers squad, the burly Peek powered his way inside the paint for a personal conference high of 21 points on 9-of-11 field goal shooting. The last of his points shattered the game's final deadlock and put the Tropang Texters in front for good, 96-94, in the final 83 seconds of the match. The Tropang Texters, who found themselves trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, and by four entering the final quarter, improved to 8-3 to rejoin Barangay Ginebra at second place. The two teams will cross paths on December 10. “It was tough. They do have a great plan and their shooters, oh, they really banged away from the outside," said Peek of the Tigers' army of shooting guards that had to make do minus injured veteran center Dennis Espino and Rob Reyes, who got hurt in the third period and was never fielded back. Gary David led Powerade’s losing cause with 25 points, but he didn't score in the pivotal fourth until the final 1:44 mark when he tied the game for the last time at 94. Rookie Sean Anthony played his best game in the league, coming through with a career-high 20 points, including 12 in the first period. But the Filipino-American rookie's awkward shot from beyond the arc with 11.8 seconds left doomed the Tigers for good. Harvey Carey split his charities at the other end to clinch the win for the Tropang Texters. Carey added 18 for Talk 'N Text while Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag had 14 each and Kelly Williams 12 as the three presided over their' second half comeback. The Tigers lost for the sixth straight time and fell to a 3-9 record, on the verge of getting eliminated in the season-opening meet. At the half, the PBA honored Asiad gold medal winner Rey Saludar together with fellow boxers Annie Albania (silver medalist) and Victorio Saludar (bronze medalist). The Filipino pugs were accompanied by coaches Roel and Boy Velasco and Pat Gaspi. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV