Chot draws worst in import, best in locals

Aaron McGhee picked up two early fouls and figured in a verbal tussle with coach Chot Reyes on the bench in the third quarter, but Talk n Text stayed focused on the game, scoring an emphatic 103-92 win over Red Bull in the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Talk n Text locals did much of the damage as the Pals caught up with the Bulls and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants at third place on their identical 2-1 win-loss records.

Don Allado came through with a double-double game with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Macmac Cardona added 19 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals as the Pals made it two in a row following a 131-95 rout of the Welcoat Dragons last Friday.

McGhee played only 22 minutes because of early fouls and was limited to 18 points and seven rebounds.

“I shouted at him and he shouted back but it’s okay with me as he plays all out when he’s on the court. He’s a competitor and he doesn’t want to lose. Incident as what happened in the third quarter is a part of our colorful relationship,” said coach Chot Reyes.

“When I asked him if he’s ready to play, he said ‘yes coach.’ We’d put the incident behind us,” Reyes said.

The Pals did a good job cutting down to size seven-foot Red Bull import Adam Parada.

“We knew we can’t match up with Parada’s size. We need quickness to offset his size and I guess we’re able to do that,” said Reyes.

The Pals won the battle off the boards, 60-51, generating fast-break points from  the efforts.

Six TnT players in Allado, Cardona, McGee, Jay Washington, Ali Peek and Yancy de Ocampo accounted for at least seven rebounds each.

The Bulls engaged the Pals in one deadlock and eight lead changes in the opening period before fading away.

The Pals took the half at 53-35 and kept double-digit leads all the way to the finish.

“It’s a good test for us how well we can come together since we’re up against the best team in the league.

Red Bull may not have the best players and the best talents but, to me, they’re the best team in the league,” said Reyes.