Phone Pals make three in row

Talk n Text continued to play well despite the absence of two key players, making it three in a row in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference with a 116-104 walloping of FedEx at the Philsports Arena last night.

Randy Holcomb and Asi Taulava dished out monstrous double-double games while Jimmy Alapag, Bong Ravena, Yancy de Ocampo and Willie Miller put in significant backup numbers as the Phone Pals sustained their fiery start in the tournament, staying unscathed following earlier wins over the Red Bull Barako Thunder and the Shell Turbochargers.

Going on a rampage minus forwards Vic Pablo and Harvey Carey the Phone Pals underscored their awesome strength and versatility with the entry of their new recruits in the off-season.

"They’re rating us up there and we’re simply responding to the challenge," said Talk n Text coach Joel Banal.

De Ocampo went two rebounds shy of what could have been a double-double job in his first game with his former team which curiously features his younger brother Ranidel. Yancy tallied 10 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes of action while Ranidel logged 19 points and five rebounds.

"Masaya ako dahil naipakita ko sa kuya ko na kaya ko din maglaro sa PBA," said Ranidel, 22, who was picked No. 4 overall in this year’s rookie draft.

"Natutuwa din ako at maganda ang inilaro ng kapatid ko. Yun nga lang kami ang panalo," said Yancy.

Miller, a prized recruit from Red Bull Barako, went only 3-of-12 from the field for seven points but added three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block coming off the bench.

Actually, the Express put up a fight in the first three quarters of play but couldn’t keep step as the Phone Pals shifted to higher gear in the last canto.

Holcomb and Taulava feasted on FedEx import Alvin Jefferson at the paint, combining for 53 points and 29 rebounds. The whole Talk n Text team outrebounded its rival, 58-44.

Jefferson had 20 points but made only two in the fourth quarter.

Bong Ravena, pitted against 1992 batchmate Vergel Meneses almost throughout, also made waves for Talk n Text as he fired 15 points, including eight in a lethal fourth-quarter attack that sent the Express tumbling to their second straight defeat.

San Miguel toughened up on defense in the second half as it repulsed sister team Barangay Ginebra, 95-82, for its second win in as many outings.

Art Long, Danny Ildefonso and Olsen Racela led the San Miguel attack even as Danny Seigle finally returned to active duty.

Long, Ildefonso and Racela combined for 60 points. Seigle was scoreless in five minutes of action.

Rosell Ellis struggled for only 10 points in his last game as Ginebra import. He will be replaced by George Reese in their next game.