Tropang Texters dodge M. Lhuillier scare anew

CEBU, Philippines - In a carbon copy of their previous encounters, the Talk N’ Txt Tropang Texters were once again pushed to the limit before fending off the exuberant M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 87-79, in the first of their two-game exhibition duel last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Game today

(Cebu Coliseum)

6 pm M. Lhuillier vs. Talk N’ Txt

After kicking off the match with an 8-0 blast, the Tropang Texters of coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes were in full control, but the multitude of defensive patterns employed by the Niños somehow wore them down as the game progressed.

Wielding a very tall lineup led by versatile import Eric Hicks, the Tropang Texters dwarfed M. Lhuillier on all range, but the big fighting heart of the Niños worked wonders as they nearly scored a major upset over the PBA heavyweights.

The Tropang Texters posted their biggest lead at 13 points, 29-16, with just two minutes gone by in the second period, but the Niños bravely came back with Abby Santos leading the charge, hitting 11 of his 13 points in a daring rally that put them down by just six, 35-41, with 53 seconds before halftime.

New import Jason Forte, who had an ice-cold start, then took over the scoring chores in the third period where the Niños tied the count twice before briefly wresting the driver’s seat, 63-22, on Forte’s 3-points to start the final quarter.

MacMac Cardona quickly put Talk N’ Txt back on top with a looper and later Ali Peek sank an undergoal stab as the Tropang Texters regained control for good, 66-63.

The Niños showed they weren’t done yet as they patiently crept back to knot the count at 70-all, but that proved to be their last gasp of breath as the Tropang Texters rolled up a 7-0 run to secure a 77-70

edge entering the final five-minute of the contest.

The Niños threatened for the last time at 78-81 on back-to-back triples by Stephen Padilla as Hicks and spunky playmaker Jimmy Alapag made crucial baskets that came to be the knocking blows for the M. Lhuillier squad.

Forte, a former NCAA star, could have at least put up some thrill to the tight endgame battle, but shot a measly 1-of-6 from the foul line.

Also at point when they needed to score, Padilla bungled three straight 3-point attempts that further compounded their woes.

The Niños hope to get even when they face the Tropang Texters anew at 6 pm today still at the Cebu Coliseum.

Hicks topscored for the Tropang Texters with 25 points highlighted by a couple of monster slam dunks. Cardona added 14 markers, while Alapag and Peek each tallied 11 markers.

Forte paced the Niños with 22 points, 20 coming in the final half. Padilla nailed all his 18 points from beyond the arc, while Santos finished with 13 points.   (FREEMAN NEWS)