Talk 'N Text nips Alaska for 3-2 edge

source: PBA.ph

Playing in honor of a departed, Talk n Text nurtured the very life of its final aspiration.

 



Jason Castro drove past Joe De Vance for the go-ahead basket then Talk n Text made a huge defensive stop in the closing seconds as the Texters pulled off an 82-81 nail-biter over the Alaska Milk Aces to move in the threshold of the PBA Fiesta Conference finals at the Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

“It boiled down to heart and guts. I have to give it to the players. Alaska made a run couples of times but we didn’t go away,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

“We lost a huge fan in the mother of our boss Mr. Ricky Vargas. Before the game, we talked about honoring Mrs. Vargas. We didn’t really play well but we played hard in her honor,” Reyes added.

Teresita Vargas, mother of the PLDT senior vice president who has served as PBA board chair, died Thursday after a lingering illness

Drawing strength from the dead, the Texters fought tenaciously in a tough battle, getting to follow up their 83-62 win in Game Four for the decisive 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“I’d like to be happy with this win but we have only one day to prepare and be ready for a huge, huge Alaska fight back in Game Six. That’s gonna be the real pivotal game,” said Reyes.

With a possible import replacement still watching in the gallery, Shawn Daniels churned out another solid game, helping the Texters earn the go-ahead win in the series.

“He’s continued stay depends on his performance. It aroused positive response from him. Other guys, with a gun on his head, will surely panic. But not Shawn,” said Reyes.

“Now, I don’t think it’s wise decision to replace him. We owe it to him to play him there,” Reyes added.

For the second straight game, Daniels stood his ground against Diamon Simpson, coming through with 18 points and 17 rebounds.

Daniels was a wall of a defense at the paint in the closing seconds, disallowing Alaska from salvaging the game.

De Vance and Simpson missed a basket each facing Daniels in the last 10 seconds.

Alaska had its last taste of the lead at 81-80 on a short stab by Simpson with time down to 44 seconds.

In the ensuing play, Talk n Text patiently ran a play that had Castro finishing with a layup off De Vance to push TnT ahead.

Castro wound up with 18 points, two assists and one rebound in a 27-minute off-the-bench game.

Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams added at least 10 points each. (SB)

The scores:

Talk N' Text 82 - Castro 18, Daniels 18, Alapag 14, De Ocampo 13, Williams 10, Carey 5, Dillinger 2, Quinahan 2, Yee 0, Cardona 0.

Alaska 81 - Simpson 25, Tenorio 15, Dela Cruz 12, Hugnatan 7, Baguio 6, De Vance 5, Fonacier 5, Borboran 2, Eman 2, Cariaso 2, Thoss 0, Robinson 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 39-37, 57-63, 82-81
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