Talk ‘N Text’s late fourth explosion takes out Rain or Shine

Talk ‘N Text’s late fourth explosion takes out Rain or Shine

A dash of quicksilver. Brawn off the boards. Talk ‘N Text picks up right where they left of.

by rick olivares photo by brosi gonzales

October 14, 2011

Araneta Coliseum

Jason Castro went up to make a pass that was picked off by Gabe Norwood. The high-flying swingman for Rain or Shine passed off to a streaking Beau Belga for a layup that cut Talk ‘N Text’s deficit to eight, 93-85.

Twenty-four seconds later, after a botched TNT offensive, Castro stole the ball from the Elasto Painter’s Paul Lee and hit a jumper to restore the double-digit lead.

The quicksilver guard followed that with an assist to Harvey Carey on a jumper then he repaid the favor and stripped Norwood of the ball. Hightailing it down to the other end, Norwood gave chase but Castro, a step ahead laid the ball in for a 99-85 lead with 2:40 left in the match.

The Tropang Texters broke a close match wide open with a fiery windup for a 107-98 win that gave the defending Philippine Cup champions its second win in as many games.

After Lee missed his second consecutive triple attempt halfway through the fourth period, Castro hit one of his own with Belga, his old college teammate at Philippine Christian University hanging all over him. That gave TNT a 93-81 lead with 4:31 left to play.

Even without three of their regulars in Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Kelly Williams who are all on extended leave following their stint with Smart Gilas in the last FIBA Asia tournament, the Tropang Texters flashed deadly form with Castro and forward Harvey Carey leading the way.

Carey played a career game when he scored 28 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. The former Sonoma State University Seawolf joined Castro in the fourth quarter explosion that put away ROS with nine points including a trey at the 8:07 mark that broke a 55-all tie; the last deadlock of the game.

Carey’s trey was his first since his rookie year in 2003. Prior to that, he was 1-32 on three-point attempts.

The Tropang Texters made life difficult for Rain or Shine’s hotshot rookie Paul Lee as Ryan Reyes harassed him into 41% shooting. Lee scored a measly two points in the second half until he added a trey and a free throw late in the game with the outcome already decided. Lee compiled 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers. He ended his second pro game by fouling out a few seconds to spare.

If there were any fireworks expected following the pre-season tussle between the two teams that saw TNT head coach Chot Reyes and ROS mentor Yeng Guiao nearly come to blows, the crowd had to content themselves with Castro’s derring-do, Lee’s game (though somewhat subdued), and Japeth Aguilar’s swats and goal tends.

Said Reyes of Aguilar, “He doesn’t have to prove that he is a scorer to me. What he can prove is that he is a great player by not only scoring but by getting rebounds and blocking shots.”

The former Smart Gilas center scored only seven points, pulled down rebounds, and blocked three shots; a far cry from his stellar opening day with TNT where he racked up 27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Ryan Reyes added 19 points, Larry Fonacier 13, and Jared Dillinger 11 in a team effort that saw them overcome a deficit on the boards. The Elasto Painters grabbed 51 rebounds to the 45 of TNT.

Seven players scored in double figures of Guiao whose team fell to 1-1.

Talk ‘N Text 107 – Carey 28, Reyes 19, Castro 18, Fonacier 13, Dillinger 11, Aguilar 7, Peek 7, Aban 4, Raymundo 0, Lao 0.

Rain or Shine 98 – Lee 17, Belga 16, Norwood 12, Cruz 11, Araña 11, Chan 10, Quiñahan 10, Buenafe 7, Matias 4, Rodriguez 0.