Texters split games in Dubai, regain lead

DUBAI – Talk n Text split its grueling back-to-back games here, making some progress in its grand slam aspiration with a 123-113 conquest of Barangay Ginebra before a jampacked crowd of mostly Filipino workers at the Al Shabab Sport Club here Friday night.

The Tropang Texters played with great resolve after a loss to the B-Meg Llamados Thursday, repulsing the Kings to regain the PBA Governors Cup solo leadership before going back to Manila Monday.

“We shot the lights out there in the first half, giving Ginebra too much deficit to come back from,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

“We lost the game against B-Meg on effort, and we should not lose that way. After that, we had an intense meeting. We looked at the numbers in our first four games and focused on how to improve,” Reyes also said.

The Texters did improve, making a huge comeback from their Thursday defeat as they kept their domination of the very team they topped to win the Commissioner’s Cup.

Maurice Baker, Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes, Jason Castro and Harvey Carey made at least 16 points each as the Texters overwhelmed the Kings with a sleek running game and torrid shooting to notch a fourth win in five starts.

The Llamados and the Kings return to Manila carrying 3-2 and 2-3 records, respectively.

“I’m really happy to come out 1-1 (in this Dubai swing). Had we lost, it could lead to a terrible slide as we face another tough team in Petron next,” said Reyes.

The Texters jumped the gun on the Kings and made sure there’s no repeat of their Thursday’s second-half meltdown.

Baker, Alapag, Reyes, Castro and Larry Fonacier combined for 14 triples, including three straight from Alapag in a searing run that opened a 25-point lead for TnT at 62-37.

With Reyes shuffling his men very well, the Texters sustained their efficient game to the finish, fending off repeated comeback efforts by the Kings in the second half.

Kelly Williams and Ali Peek put in significant contributions in the fourth quarter, fueling a run that eventually finished off the Kings at 121-106 entering the final minute of the game.

Alapag was back in his elements, firing away five triples and finishing with 20 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 23-minute off-the-bench job.

“In our meeting, Jimmy was the first to admit he’s only 70-percent ready and he said Jason deserves to start (at the point guard spot),” said Reyes.

Castro got the team to a good start, opening a double-digit margin at 27-14.

The Texters settled for a 32-29 lead at the end of the opening quarter before coming out roaring in the second period, breaking the game wide open at 62-37.

The Kings, however, refused to just roll over and die, waging a fiery third-quarter rally to the delight of the predominantly pro-Ginebra crowd.

Curtis Stinson had another solid all-around game with 30 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while Mark Caguioa added 26 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Kings.

NOTES: Local sportswriters were amazed at the huge crowd attracted by the Ginebra-TnT game, saying it’s the biggest that ever gathered at the Al Shabab Sports Club. “Never had this arena been filled like this before. Smart Gilas’ games also attracted huge crowds, especially their finals stint in the Dubai Invitational. But those games were played in a different venue,” said Gulf News chief photographer Hadrian Hernandez, a Filipino.