Llamados end Texters' streak, boost semis bid

MANILA, Philippines - B-MEG Derby Ace foiled Talk n Text’s bid for a place in history as the Llamados ended the Tropang Texters’ 13-game romp with a nerve-wracking 88-87 win in their PBA Fiesta Conference road game at the Tacloban City Convention Center in Leyte last night.

KG Canaleta broke an 87-all standoff with a free throw with eight-tenths of a second left, denying the Texters the longest streak in a conference in three decades or since Crispa won its first 19 games in the 1980 All-Filipino Cup.

Derby Ace stretched its own streak to four games and, in the process, enhanced its chance of claiming the second outright semis berth in the season-ending tourney.

Cliff Brown, James Yap and Roger Yap all put in double-digit outputs as Derby Ace triumphed in the penultimate leg of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour.

Though assured of the first semis slot, Talk n Text fought menacingly and went close to notching a 14th straight win.

The game looked headed for overtime when Canaleta drew a foul from Harvey Carey with 0.8 second left.

The 6-foot-4 forward knocked in one free throw, allowing the Llamados to escape with the win that jacked up their record to 11-5, just half a game behind the second-running San Miguel Beermen (12-5). 

Alaska Milk presses its own bid for an outright semifinal entry while Sta. Lucia Realty seeks to formalize passage into the wildcard round as they mix it up at the resumption of play at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Barangay Ginebra and Air21 clash in the day’s other game with the Kings looking for an outright quarters seat and the Express fighting for survival.

Coca-Cola and Rain or Shine automatically settle for the wildcard round plays should Ginebra beat Air21.

Brown scattered 24 points and the two Yaps combined for 30 as the Llamados overcame a tough challenge put up by the Texters even in the absence of Kelly Williams.

The Texters had won all their first eight games after acquiring the services of Williams and Ryan Reyes from Sta. Lucia.

Down by five, 81-86, with 1:16 left, the Texters drew even at 87-all on a triple each by Ranidel de Ocampo and Mark Cardona.

De Ocampo topscored for TnT with 16 points with Jimmy Alapag, Shawn Daniels and Jason Castro adding 11 apiece and Reyes chipping in 10.

The Llamados and the Texters figured in a fierce battle that saw no team leading by more than nine.

It was highly charged and highly emotional game marked by technical fouls incurred by Castro and TnT coach Chot Reyes.