The Hotdogs gallantly fought back from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter and repulsed the Phone Pals, 92-89, in their first game under their controversial foreign coach.
"Until this afternoon, we didn’t know whom we’re be up against. But we’re not really talking about Bill Bayno. We’re determined to come out fighting whoever the (Talk ’N Text) coach is," said Gregorio.
Gregorio refused to comment about the quarrel between Talk ’N Text and the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) about Bayno although deep inside, he might be saying: "This one’s for BCAP." It would be remembered that the young mentor was part of the coaching staff of Eric Altamirano sacked by the PLDT management two years ago.
Bayno called the shots for the Phone Pals after PLDT officials secured a Department of Labor and Employment alien employment permit and Games and Amusements Board license for him.
BCAP president Chito Narvasa said ‘Talk ’N Text drew first blood, so the fight is on," meaning they will pursue their bid to disallow the foreign mentor from working as head coach in the country.
"We’ll work quietly but accordingly. We’ll consult our lawyers and do the appropriate things without fanfare dahil simula na ng totoong laban," said Narvasa. "We’ll investigate how they were able to get the DOLE paper, who gave it and who got it."
Narvasa told The STAR that he met with PLDT top officials Iggy Yenko, Al Panlilio and Ricky Vargas Friday. The BCAP head said Talk ’N Text had decided they will just name Bayno as consultant and tap Frankie Lim as head coach but had a change of heart yesterday upon consulting lawyers.
"I don’t want to comment on the game. Pero masama," said Narvasa without elaborating.
For a while, it looked like Bayno would have a grand party in his first game in the local pro league as the Phone Pals dominated the first half and led by as many as 16 points, 62-46, early in the final half.
But the Hotdogs would gatecrash the party and spoil the fun.
With their young ace players on loan to the national candidates pool, Purefoods old warriors Alvin Patrimonio, Ronnie Magsanoc and Rey Evangelista joined hands with imports Derrick Brown and Leonard White as the Hotdogs turned the game around with a searing chase behind an efficient zone defense and a fastbreaking offense.
Purefoods came up with 39 points as against Talk ’N Text’s 16 in a 10-minute stretching bridging the last two quarters to turn the tie in their favor, 85-76.
Jherome Ejercito delivered back-to-back three-pointers to put back order in Talk ’N Text’s game in the last stretch but the Hotdogs hang on and completed what’s the most stirring win in the season thus far.
Brown and White both got away with double-double jobs, combing for 60 points and 30 rebounds. Patrimonio chipped in 15 points, Evangelista eight points and at the same number of rebounds while Magsanoc seven points with all coming in the fourth quarter. Jerald Honeycutt erupted for 22 points in the first half but was held down to only six in the last two quarters of play. Richie Frahm added 17 while concentrating his game from the outside.
Bayno stuck with Alaska discard Kenny Evans for most of the way at pointguard spot. But Evans finished with a fat zero.
Like the Selecta Philippine Team Thursday, the Hapee RP squad kicked off its campaign in the Governors Cup on a winning note, nipping Sta. Lucia Realty, 63-61, in the second game.
RP Hapee also played with a depleted lineup but worked hard to overcome the Realtors.