Talk ‘n Text shoots down Air21 for Philippine Cup top seed

I haven't written about the PBA games for about two weeks now since I was abroad. Hope to get back in the swing of things when the Suzuki Cup is over. In the meantime, here's just a bit of it.

Talk ‘n Text shoots down Air21 for Philippine Cup top seed

Talk ‘N Text 103 vs. Air21 89

by rick olivares

December 12, 2010

Araneta Coliseum

Chot Reyes sat on a chair in front of from of his victorious Talk ‘N Text team that had earlier clinched the number one seed in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs following its 103-89 thrashing of Air21.

Although TNT finished with an 11-3 slate which is the same as San Miguel beer which pretty much led the league almost the entire way, the Tropang Texters had the superior quotient 1.05 to 0.951. It was the first time since 1999 (when Asi Taulava was their man in the middle) that Talk 'N Text topped the All-Filipino conference before the start of the playoffs.

The game was some 20 minutes over yet Reyes poured over the match statistics like his team had just lost. “It’s good to be the number one seed but our job isn’t over,” said Reyes who noted that he has at least six players in the statistical categories in the league.

“For us to get this far without Mac Mac (Cardona) shows the resiliency of this team. It shows toughness.” Reyes added.

In truth, the Tropang Texters have lost some of their franchise players through the years such as Asi Taulava (to Coke), Jay Washington (to San Miguel), and Cardona (Meralco) yet they’ve hardly lost a step with other players constantly stepping up. “

“We have to be tough.”

Unfortunately the starting unit got off to a slow start against the Air21 Express.

“We sort of expected that after a hard game against Ginebra last Friday,” explained Reyes. “That’s why it was our second unit that got us on track.”

Following a 23-25 deficit to end the first quarter, the Tropang Texters took a 49-43 half time lead before dropping a 30-point bomb to break the match wide open in the third quarter. Forward Kelly Williams scored 11-points on a variety of drives including an alley-oop slam from a lob by Ryan Reyes to hike the score to 72-51.

The Express, tried to battle back behind rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini (15 points), forward Leo Najorda (15 points), and backup guard Lou Gatumbato who scored all 12 of his points in the second half. But it wasn’t enough as TNT dominated the boards 56-41 while shooting 48.8% from the field.

“Air21 is an up and coming team blessed with young talent,” raved Reyes. “With more seasoning for their rookies and maybe a huge pick up here or there, they will be contenders.”

Of course, Reyes’ team is no slouch. Six Tropang Texters scored in double digits in a balanced scoring attack. Williams lead the way with 15 while Ryan Reyes added 13, Harvey Carey, the sole player in the tournament averaging a double double compiled 13 points and 14 boards, Jason Castro finished with 12, while Jared Dillinger and Aaron Aban tallied 11 each.

Without a prodigious scorer like Cardona, the Tropang Texters have switched to a more disciplined set where they place a premium on passing, defense, and an uptempo game to suit their athletic lineup. “But… more than anything,” said the three-time Coach of the Year, “I want a team that plays tough. I think that we showed it so far but our work is not yet done.”