Phone Pals even series with Giants

Yancy de Ocampo and Jay Washington redeemed themselves from their poor showing Sunday with career-high outputs last night as the Talk n Text Phone Pals got back at the Purefoods Chunkee Giants, 110-92, in Game Two of their Talk n Text PBA Philippine Cup best-of-five quarterfinals showdown at the Astrodome.

De Ocampo and Washington tossed in 26 points each, giving the Phone Pals tremendous boost after suffering an 84-87 defeat in the series-opener.

The two TnT frontliners combined for just 15 points Sunday, outclassed by Marc Pingris who came through with 19 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks.

But De Ocampo and Washington showed up Pingris and the other Purefoods big men in Game Two marred by a fight between guards Jimmy Alapag and Paul Artadi towards the end of the contest.

Alapag was thrown out of the game and could well be suspended in Game Three tomorrow after hitting Artadi on the face when the two players were already being separated by the referees.

Talk n Text coach Derrick Pumaren said they would appeal Alapag’s case, saying his player was provoked.

"The game’s over. Who knows if he did that on purpose. I think the commissioner should also look into that," said Pumaren on Artadi clinging on Alapag’s shorts while down on the floor after a collision with the Talk n Text point guard.

"We’re happy to tie the series but I think we’ll gonna lose Jimmy. Hopefully, our momentum goes on even without Jimmy," Pumaren also said.

Renren Ritualo, Mark Cardona and Felix Belano also scored in double figures for the Phone Pals who bounced back strong from their Game One defeat, dominating the Giants most of the way.

Already taking the Giants’ key players in control in the first half, the Phone Pals gained an added break with Pingris suffering a suspected fractured nose three minutes into the third period.

Pingris was rushed to a nearby hospital and never returned.

Washington, De Ocampo and Ritualo took turns in leading Talk n Text’s searing assault. Washington made 10 in the first period, Ritualo 12 in the second and De Ocampo 16 in the final canto.

De Ocampo, playing his second game in his return to Talk n Text, fired 10 in a 16-4 run that gave the Pals a 91-71 bulge midway through the final quarter.

"We played to our true potential tonight. We’re really focused," said Pumaren.