Jakarta Bash: Pals book historic win over Chargers

JAKARTA – Talk ‘N Text import Earl Ike provided the firepower while Victor Pablo and Don Camaso supplied the muscle underneath as the Phone Pals bucked a 39-point explosion of Shell recruit Wesley Wilson to fashion out a historic 97-88 win Sunday night in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the newly-built Britama Sports Mall here.

In a game marked as the league’s first official game outside Philippine soil and witnessed by thousands of overseas Filipino workers as well as Indonesian fans, the Phone Pals overcame an 11-point deficit in the first period, 10-21, and seized control in the second half to join opening day winners Coca-Cola Tigers and San Miguel Beer and Purefoods TJ Hotdogs and Batang Red Bull Barako in the early lead.

Ike, who was born in Alabama but raised in Georgetown and had stint in European and Korean Leagues, scored 18 points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Although he was held to just six points in the final half, Ike went 8-for-10 from the field.

More importanly, Pablo and Camaso stepped up as they both posted double-double performances with the former firing 17 points and snaring 10 rebounds and the latter tossing in 15 points and pulling down the same number of caroms.

TNT back-up center Yancy de Ocampo added nine points, highlighted by two three-pointers in the 10-0 run that gave the Phone Pals a 45-40 halftime cushion.

Wilson, who also had 17 rebounds, waxed hot in the third canto firing 18 of Shell’s 28-quarter points as the Turbo-Chargers remained a threat, 70-68, going into the last 12 minutes.

But the Phone Pals opened up the fourth period with 12-4 binge anchored on Felix Belano and Patrick Fran’s triple that gave Phone Pals a comfortable 82-72 lead with six minutes in the contest.

"We have a good import and the locals stepped-up," said TNT coach Joel Banal. "Lahat nagawang umiskor. It’s a good start."

Shell coach Leo Austria was impressed by Wilson’s debut and so were his players.

"Lahat mukhang na-excite sa laro ng import namin kaya nanood lang. Walang nakatulong," Austria said. "Isa pa, pagod pa sa biyahe si Wilson. Kadarating lang niya two days ago, tapos heto biyahe na naman. Wala rin iyong inaasahan namin like Tony (dela Cruz)."

Billy Mamaril scored 12 points while Ronald Tubid had 10 for the Turbo Chargers who were out rebounded by the Phone Pals, 55-46. De la Cruz had five points.

Making matter worse for the Shell was its field goal shooting a miserable 37 percent (35-of-94) compared to TNT’s 50 percent n(36-of-72).