SMB subdues TNT to stay on top of Philippine Cup standings
San Miguel 93 vs. Talk ‘N Text 88
by rick olivares with photo by tunying p.
November 17, 2010
Araneta Coliseum
In one of the most competitive matches this Philippine Cup, San Miguel Beer ratcheted up their intensity in the second half to beat an undermanned Talk ‘N Text team 93-88 to stay atop the standings with an 8-2 record.
With his team down by a point 35-36 at the half to Talk ‘N Text, San Miguel head coach Ato Agustin called on his team to redouble their efforts. “They are an active team that plays with over 100% effort. They have high-energy players like Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger, and Harvey Carey. We should match up and if possible, ihigit natin yung effort nila.”
After Mick Pennisi hit a wide open three from the top of the arc to make it 49-46 for SMB, the Beermen never looked back. But it was the heady play by its two point guards Alex Cabagnot and Olsen Racela that stabilized their team.
Cabagnot outdueled Alapag on both ends of the floor while Racela, Danny Seigle, and Danny Ildefonso turned back the hands of time to provide significant contributions.
Racela, playing in his final PBA conference this Philippine Cup, checked in for only 11 minutes but it was an incandescent stint where he unloaded three big triples that pushed the Beermen’s lead into double figures following a TNT run. Seigle chipped in nine points while Ildefonso added five in the fourth quarter.
“Hindi ko naman sinasadya na isabay yung tatlo,” said Agustin about the three former starters who now come off the bench as their second unit. “Nagkakataon lang. Pero okay pa rin sila panoorin. Sila yung reason di ba sa pagbabalik ng San Miguel nung 90s?”
The Tropang Texters were without head coach Chot Reyes and forward Kelly Williams who were both with the Smart Gilas national team seeing action in the Guangzhou Asian Games. Assistant Nash Racela took over the bench duties in the absence of Reyes.
The absences aside, TNT drew superb performances from Jason Castro who used his speed to blitz by defenders en route to a team high 18 points. Forwards Harvey Carey and Ali Peek, the league’s newest version of the Bruise Brothers, combined for 33 points and 29 rebounds.
After Racela made the last of his treys and Ildefonso tacked on a free throw to make it a 14-point lead, 89-75, with 4:25 to play, TNT went to their speed game and scored eight straight points courtesy of a pair of three-point plays by Dillinger and Castro and a layup by Peek. They stopped the Beermen in the next possession but an Alapag turnover and a non-call on a goaltending violation by Jay Washington swung the game back in favor of San Miguel for a 93-88 win.
“Consider this a dry run for the upcoming match with Ginebra San Miguel.” Said Agustin. “Talk ‘N Text plays very much like Ginebra because much of their offense comes from their guards (Castro, Alapag, and Ryan Reyes). We threw a zone at them to stop Jimmy and Ryan and we hoped that our bigs can just match up with theirs. Luckily, we came out with a win.”
San Miguel climbed to 8-2 with four games to play. Agustin’s team is shooting for one of the top two seeds after the eliminations that will give them a twice-to-beat advantage during the quarterfinals. Talk ‘N Text fell to third place with a 6-3 record following the loss and a game behind second running Ginebra which is at 7-2.
The Beermen face the Kings this coming Sunday in an all-important match at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel 93 – Washington 20, Cabagnot 11, Hontiveros 11, Racela 9, Seigle 9, Ildefonso 9, Pennisi 9, Santos 7, Tugade 6, Artadi 2, Yeo 0, Miranda 0
Talk ‘N Text 88 – Castro 18, Peek 18, Carey 15, Dillinger 13, Fonacier 8, Alapag 6, Aban 4, Reyes 2, Alvarez 2, Lao 2
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