Texters send strong message: Demolish B Pier for third win

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:45 p.m. – Petron vs Barako Bull

8 p.m. – Air21 vs Alaska Milk

MANILA, Philippines - Jimmy Alapag played his 500th PBA game and his Talk n Text teammates helped make the milestone more memorable with a 106-93 conquest of Globalport in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

Alapag took to school rookies Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia with a steady, efficient quarterbacking of the Tropang Texters, who roared to a second straight win and improved to 3-1 in a tie with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

The brilliant Fil-Am playmaker laced his newest personal career achievement scoring 17 points and dishing out six assists to join the league’s elite 3,000-assist club. He was 8-of-8 from the stripe in this game and 27-of-27 dating back to last season.

“It’s an absolute blessing to be with the PBA playing with Talk n Text in last 11 years. Credit goes to my family, my wife, the franchise and the players I’ve played with,” said Alapag.

On his perfect free throws, Alapag said: “It’s a free shot. And with all these talented young guys, any opportunity that comes, I try my best to knock it down.”

Danny Seigle, finally making his TnT debut, and Ranidel de Ocampo, returning from the injured list, put in their shares as the three-time defending champs Texters reasserted their mastery of the Batang Pier with a dominant performance.

The Texters led from start to finish as they dealt the Batang Pier a third loss in four starts.

Starting strong in each quarter, the Texters enjoyed a 21-point right in the first half and led by 25 thrice towards the end in a performance that augured well for an expected showdown with Barangay Ginebra Sunday.

“It’s good feeling having more offensive weapons tonight with Danny S and Ranidel coming back,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black. “We’re limited in the first three games. Those two have made us more balanced.”

Seigle scored on a drive, Robbie Celiz drained two charities and Eliud Poligrates fired away a trey as the Texters led by 21, 41-20, at the start of the second period.

Meralco stoked the fire of its 112-79 rout of Air21 the last time out and pulled off a king-sized 100-87 upset of Barangay Ginebra later in the night.

Working well together on both ends throughout, the Bolts ended the Kings’ unbeaten run, allowing the Petron Blaze Boosters to gain solo lead in the tourney at 3-0.

The Bolts improved to 2-2 while the Kings moved down to joint second place with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters at 3-1.

The Batang Pier trimmed their deficit down to 13, 51-64, at the half through the efforts of Jay Washington, Sol Mercado and Terrence Romeo.

Alapag, Larry Fonacier, Noy Baclao, Sean Anthony and Kelly Williams got the Texters to a good start, erecting an early double-digit spread at 14-4.

It was five minutes into the game when Alapag hit his newest personal milestone of a 3,000th career assist, feeding Harvey Carey for a layup that made it 17-8

Alapag was the ninth player to make the 3,000-assist club after Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Philip Cezar, Willie Generalao, Dindo Pumaren, Ronnie Magsanoc, Johnny Abarrientos and Olsen Racela.

Jaworski is No. 1 in career assists with 5,825, followed by Fernandez (5,220), Pumaren (4,043), Abarrientos (3,757) and Generalao (3,256).

Meanwhile, Petron Blaze stakes its clean slate against Barako Bull while Air21 hopes to finally nail the elusive first win in taking on Alaska Milk at the resumption at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Despite injuries to key players, the Boosters are the odds-on picks versus the Energy Cola in their 5:45 p.m. faceoff while the Aces, the Commissioner’s Cup champs, are favored over the slumping Express in their 8 p.m. tiff.

The scores:

First Game

Talk N’ Text 106 – Fonacier 18, Alapag 17, Seigle 13, Castro 12, Carey 11, Baclao 10, Williams 8, Poligrates 7, Anthony 5, De Ocampo 3, Celiz 2, Ferriols 0, Reyes 0.

Globalport 93 – Washington 21, Romeo 16, Mercado 14, Chua 11, Garcia 7, Nabong 6, Salva 6, Belencion 4, Hayes 4, Lingganay 2, Menk 2, Ponferrada 0, Salvador 0. 

Quarterscores: 34-20, 64-51, 91-68, 106-93 

Second Game

Meralco 100 – Dillinger 25, Cortez 21, David 14, Al-Hussaini 14, Wilson 14, Sena 7, Guevarra 3, Salvacion 2, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0.

Ginebra 87 – Aguilar 23, Tenorio 14, Caguioa 14, Reyes 8, Slaughter 7, Baracael 5, Ellis 5, Ababou 3, Urbiztondo 3, Forrester 3, Monfort 2, Helterbrand 0, Mamaril 0.

Quarterscores: 27-25, 46-35, 78-58, 100-87