TNT unfazed by depletion

With three key players out of commission, Talk ‘N’ Text displayed toughness under pressure to outgut Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 85-79, in Game 2 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

It didn’t seem likely coach Norman Black would wiggle his way out of a losing situation with Kelly Williams, Ali Peek and Jared Dillinger gone. Williams has left the country with his wife and two children to go back to the US on an indefinite medical leave. He played nine games for the Tropa this conference then decided to pack up. Williams is suffering from a blood disorder and has been on steroids to be able to play. He took off last April 13.

“Kelly’s decision has to do with his family,” said a team insider. “He’d become so depressed because with his condition, he’s not able to spend quality time with his wife and children. He would be so drained after practice or playing in a game. He was even wondering if it was worth living. In the end, Kelly decided to give up playing and preserve his family life. He wanted to officially retire but was convinced to just file a leave to keep the door open for a comeback. Wherever he is, the team is committed to support Kelly. Someday, we hope that he will come back to the PBA.”

Peek sat out the Texters’ first 10 games this conference and took him a while to get back in the groove. He was scoreless in his first two outings. But during the quarterfinals, Peek began to show flashes of his old form, averaging nine points in the two wins over Petron. He has since been sidelined, sitting out the first two games in the Ginebra series where his services are badly needed by the Tropa for inside presence.

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“Ali is day to day,” said Texters team manager Aboy Castro. “He has back and muscle spasms. He’s been seeing doctors, therapists and chiropractors the past few days. He’s just raring to get back into action and help the team.” The All-Star break will be a welcome respite for Peek as Game 3 is scheduled on May 8. Peek could be ready to play by then.

Dillinger’s departure couldn’t have come at a worse time for Black. Early last Saturday morning, he suffered a fracture in his left pelvic bone after crashing into a post on the South Superhighway. The time of the accident was between 3 and 4 a.m. Castro said the team is investigating what led to the smash-up. “We want to verify all details,” said Castro, declining to speculate if Dillinger fell asleep while driving his brand-new Mitsubishi Montero SUV or was intoxicated.  The SUV was badly damaged as Dillinger was on the way to his home near Bicutan. Castro said Dillinger’s recollection of the incident is hazy.

A report said Dillinger was brought home after the crash and later confined at the Makati Medical Center. He was alone in the car. Tomorrow, Dillinger will go under the knife “to realign his pelvis and stabilize the fracture with metal plates and screws. After surgery, he will be immobilized for six to 12 weeks then begin a long rehabilitation process. In all, Dillinger will be out of action from three to six months, missing the rest of the season and giving up his slot in the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the FIBA-Asia Championships here on Aug. 1-11.

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In Game 2, the Texters had more rebounds, 46-40, more assists, 18-9, more free throws made 15-of-21 to Ginebra’s 10-of-21 and a higher field goal percentage, .478 to .408. The stats showed that Talk ‘N’ Text gave Ginebra a dose of the defensive medicine the Barangay used in crushing the Tropa, 104-81, in Game 1 last Friday. In Game 1, Ginebra got away with 21 assists and hit .525 from the floor. In Game 2, the Texters took away the Kings’ extra passes and made them bleed for their points.

The Texters realized that with three key players out of the rotation, they wouldn’t be able to outgun Ginebra so Black clamped down defensively instead. The trick worked as the Tropa claimed the win even as Larry Fonacier went 0-of-5 from the floor in 31 minutes, clearly indicating it’s defense more than offense that defines character in the playoffs.

Vernon Macklin felt the heat from the start in Game 2 and finished with only 5-of-14 field goals compared to 11-of-18 in Game 1. Chris Ellis and Mac Baracael were held to a combined eight points in Game 2 – they shot 25 together in Game 1. Compounding Ginebra’s woes was L. A. Tenorio’s shooting struggle. Battling pain in his elbow, Tenorio went 0-of-7 triples in Game 2. Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua could’ve used Rudy Hatfield’s hustle in the rematch but the H-Bomb was sidelined with an injury.

The Texters-Ginebra series is now tied at a win apiece. Game 3 is crucial because the winner gains a twice-to-beat advantage over the loser and in settling a tight series, that edge could prove to be decisive.