Locals lift Phone Pals past Aces

ANTIPOLO CITY — Jerald Honeycutt and Pete Mikeal got the best from their local teammates as Talk N Text wore down Alaska Milk, 82-78, yesterday to take a 1-0 lead in their 2002 PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinal duel at the Ynares Center here.

The power-playing Honeycutt did what he does best, taking charge in crunchtime, as he erupted for 26 points including nine of Phone Pals’ 13 fourth quarter points that proved enough to weather the Aces’ late rally.

Mikeal, who just came out from the hospital due to a freak viral and stomach infection yesterday afternoon, keyed the crucial runs that got Talk N Text going after a slow start.

But more than the heroics of Honeycutt and Mikeal, who finished with 25 markers, Talk N Text coach Bill Bayno had more praises for his local players, particularly Elmer Lago, Felix Belano and Kenny Evans.

"Our imports made things happen for us as expected but my locals, I feel, played a key role in this crucial win," said Bayno, who was fined a league-high P200,000 for his tirades against the league and officiating late in the elimination round.

"No one really wanted these guys but Felix Belano, Elmer and Kenny were just simply incredible," he added.

While Lago provided the ammos with two triples and a basket, Belano, traded from Sta. Lucia before this conference in exchange for Gherome Ejercito, was the adhesive that glued the Pals together as he sneaked in six markers, seven assists and four rebounds.

Evans, who was seldom used by former team Alaska, got the job done in defense as he successfully disrupted the Aces’ offensive flow in clutch situations. The win thus put Bayno three games up in his head-to-head duel with fellow American and Alaska mentor Tim Cone but quickly downplayed the rivalry.

"I didn’t beat Tim Cone three times because it’s not coaches who win games, it’s actually the players," said Bayno.

It was a game of spurts from the start with the Aces jumping the gun first by capturing a 23-11 first quarter lead, an advantage Talk N Text easily overhauled when Mikeal stepped up to close the half with the Pals enjoying a 43-38 upperhand.

Things got hazy for Alaska when Mikeal teamed up with Honeycutt in a blistering run bridging the third and fourth quarters that saw Talk N Text erecting a 75-59 edge, which was trimmed down to 75-71 on a 12-0 blitz by the Aces.

But Honeycutt rediscovered his rhythm as he drained a medium range jumper and a triple that defused Alaska’s rally for the win.