Texters edge Giants for solo 3rd

MANILA, Philippines - Diminutive Jimmy Alapag played big in his return from a one-game layoff, enduring a pulled hamstring as he helped Talk n Text upend Purefoods, 101-98, for solo third place in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Xavier U Gym in Cagayan de Oro last night.

Macmac Cardona, the league scoring leader with an average of 21 points an outing, struggled for eight points but had a crucial basket as Tropang Texters nailed a ninth win against five losses.

The Giants engaged the Texters in a fierce duel but yielded the game as they went scoreless in the final minute of play.

James Yap, KG Canaleta and Kerby Raymundo had a missed attempt each and the Giants eventually lost the game on an inbound error by Raymundo with the team down by three with two seconds to go in the contest.

Purefoods suffered a first loss to Talk n Text in two years and slid to fifth place with an 8-6 card in this all-Filipino tourney.

Yap poured in a season-high 28 points that went to naught in this contest serving as the latest stop of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour.

Cardona bled for eight points but he knocked in the game’s biggest shot, making it 99-98 with 45.3 ticks left.

Three missed free throws by Alapag gave the Giants an opportunity to steal the game but Canaleta misfired a three-pointer then Raymundo bungled a follow-up shot.

It was a duel between the league’s best offensive team (Talk n Text) and best defensive team (Purefoods) marred by technical infractions by Yap and Raymundo.

Jason Castro took charge for the Texters as they came through with a decisive run in the third quarter, storming ahead, 71-66, going into the payoff period.

With better rebounding and better shooting earlier, the Giants enjoyed eight-point spreads in the second quarter and sat on a 45-39 cushion at halftime.

They took the early initiative but yielded the lead, 24-27, at the close of the opening period on a rare four-point play by Jimmy Alapag off Roger Yap.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer both seek win No. 12 as they take on Coca-Cola and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, in the final weekend offering of the league in 2009.

The Aces, the league front-runners with an 11-1 slate, battle the Tigers at 4 p.m. looking to duplicate their 100-79 win in their previous tiff.

The Beermen, running second with an 11-3 card, slug it out with the Kings at 6:30 p.m., eyeing revenge of their 86-98 loss in their initial encounter.

San Miguel lost its first two games in the tourney versus Ginebra and Alaska before hitting its strides, winning 11 of its next 12 games.

They are fancied to get back at the Kings with a lineup further strengthened by the return of Danny Seigle and Jay Washington. The Kings, on the other hand, are shorthanded minus injured stars Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand.

SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen, however, is not taking the Kings lightly.

“Yes, our potential has gotten better on the return of our injured players, but it’s not a guarantee of a win. There’s also the question of chemistry,” said Tanquingcen.