Win of the Year: Petron Blaze slams the Grand Slam bid of Talk ‘N Text

Not all basketball games are created equal. Some games are worth more than others just because there’s more at stake. PBA teams routinely sleepwalk through elimination games especially late in the season when playoff seedings are all but wrapped up. But everybody comes to play for a win-or-go-home game, and moreso when a title is on the line.

And Game Seven of the 2011 PBA Governor’s Cup title series was worth way more than any other PBA game in recent memory.

Consider the stakes. The teams were contesting the fate of Talk ‘N Text’s bid for the mythical Grand Slam, a feat done just four times before in PBA history. The difference between a historic Grand Slam and a two-titles-and-a-runnerup-finish was worlds apart, and a Talk ‘N Text loss would have turned one of the great campaigns in league history into the most bitter of disappointments.

It was also the rematch of the 2010-2011 Philippine Cup finals where Talk ‘N Text emerged with their first title that season. It would have meant the difference between a 2-0 sweep for the Texters in title series against Petron Blaze, or a 1-1 draw for the two teams that best qualify as a legitimate rivalry in today’s PBA.

Throw in the way Talk ‘N Text was rumored to have chosen to play Petron in the finals by tanking in their last game of the round-robin semis, and the
near-fistcuffs between the two coaches early in the title series and you have a game that no player would have trouble getting pumped for.

A regular PBA title, not to undercut its value, isn’t exactly the most rare of feats. When you consider that there are three of them up for grabs every single year, it kind of waters down the accomplishment just the teeniest bit.

But a game with this much at stake – this doesn’t come around too often.

Check out the other nominees for Win of the Year

And the Petron Blaze Boosters showed up for it.

Arwind Santos, fresh off losing the Most Valuable award to Jimmy Alapag, turned in an MVP-type performance. Anthony Grundy proved himself the better import over Scottie Reynolds and Mo Baker. Alex Cabagnot methodically picked the Talk ‘N Text defense apart with his playmaking.

And in the end, the Boosters took home the crown.

This was the win of the year because it was the basketball equivalent of Frodo destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mordor. Talk ‘N Text had dominated the season, won two titles and came within one game of clinching their third and becoming part of PBA history. In the end, what people will remember will be how they failed to win the Grand Slam. In one game, Petron virtually undid everything that Talk ‘N Text worked all season for.

This was the win of the year because it was the most important PBA game in years, and despite having the odds stacked against them, the Petron Blaze Boosters got the job done.

And won.

source by Mikkel Bolante, InterAKTV · Monday, Image by InterAKTV/Markku Seguerra

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Peek is ready to rumble

Talk ’N Text’s veteran center Ali Peek has been given clearance by his doctors to play again in the PBA Philippine Cup nearly two months after he was shot in the nape by a still unidentified gunman inside the RFM gym parking lot in Mandaluyong City.

“He’s cleared to play again,” said TNT team manager Aboy Castro in a phone interview with the Bulletin yesterday.

Castro said that the massive 6-foot-4 Peek had his final test by doctors at the Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City, including an angiogram. It was actually the second test done to the 36-year-old cager who is in his 13th year in the pro league.

Early this month, Peek, who averaged 8.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 shot blocks through six games with TNT, went to the United States to have a second opinion on his injury.

Days after the shooting incident, Peek and his family opted not to go under the knife to remove the lodged bullet in his nape, which was then a concern that it might paralyze him or kill him if he returns to basketball.

However, all these, according to Castro have been carefully studied by doctors here and abroad.

“The doctors in the US gave him clearance. The test done here (last Tuesday) was just confirmatory, since it was part of the process. It will take just a few days for him to rest after the test. He’ll rejoin the team on Monday,” Castro said.

“Well, we need him in the semifinals. His presence will be a big help to the team,” added Castro as TNT will face Petron Blaze in the best-of-seven semifinal series starting Jan. 5, 2012.

source by Walon Galvez, mb.com.ph

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Ali Peek awaits final test

Talk ‘N Text center Ali Peek has perhaps chosen the path with the lesser peril, opting to keep the bullet where it is currently lodged, in the nape where he was shot by an unknown assailant last November 7 as he emerged from a Mandaluyong gym.

His other choice was to have surgery to remove the bullet. But that, too, involved some danger and doctors would not operate unless they get a waiver from the patient.

The wound has fully healed and he reported for practice last Monday at the Moro Lorenzo gym in Ateneo with the intention of being ready for TNT’s semifinal opener against Petron next week.

It was not the kind of hard training his teammates were doing. For instance, there was no scrimmage, no contact, just shooting drills for the center.

His condition is not even day-to-day. Before any hard drill or contact game, Peek must have one more clearance from doctors before he can plunge to real training.

With the bullet still there, lodged near his spinal cord, he’d been told that his condition is dangerous. A hard hit on the nape or a hard fall may move the bullet and hit his spinal cord and if this happens, there is danger of paralysis.

Yesterday, TNT mentor Chot Reyes told the Bulletin that the 6-foot-4 Peek will have a “final round of test” to be conducted by his doctors at the Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City.

“If he’s cleared, he’ll start practicing again (on Thursday),” said Reyes.

Talk ’N Text assistant coach Nash Racela said that last Monday, Peek had a light training, doing mostly shooting drills. If Peek will be given the ‘‘green light’’ by his doctors, he will join tomorrow’s full practice as TNT prepares for its best-of-seven semifinal series with Petron Blaze.

Prior to the shooting incident, Peek averaged 8.5 points and 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 shots blocks (tied for second with Arwind Santos of Petron) through six games with TNT.

Until now, despite the release of an artist’s sketch and a P500,000 reward posted by team owner Manny V. Pangilinan, authorities have yet to arrest any suspect or determine any motive for the shooting.

By Waylon Galvez, mb.com.ph

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No. 9 – TnT Misses Grand Slam

Talk n Text became the biggest toast in the PBA in 2011 with a near grand slam it missed by a single game.

Reaping the fruits of an aggressive buildup, the Tropang Texters outfought the San Miguel Beermen for the Philippine Cup crown then beat the Barangay Ginebra Kings for the Commissioner’s Cup championship – victories that lined themselves up for a grand slam in the Governors Cup.

The Texters did reach the third conference finals and came to within a win of a rare Triple Crown before getting slammed by Petron Blaze (San Miguel).

TnT would have been only the fourth team to achieve the grand slam after Crispa, San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk but the Texters settled for the distinction of being the first PBA ball club to score back-to-back championships in nearly a decade.

Jimmy Alapag and company showcased a swashbuckling run that gave them a .0723 winning percentage in the season – the most by any team since Great Taste notched .736 in 1984.

They beat the Ginebra Kings in the second conference finals in six games, capping the most dominant showing by a team in a tourney since the legendary Crispa Redmanizers went 20-1 in ruling the 1980 All-Filipino Conference. Talk n Text logged a 15-3 mark in its championship run.

The Texters later dominated the annual awards as much as they overwhelmed the opposition in the season.

Alapag won the Most Valuable Player award and was joined by teammate Kelly Williams in the Mythical First Five.

Jason Castro was virtually unopposed as the Most Improved Player and landed a berth in the Mythical Second Team while Ryan Reyes made the All-Defensive Team.

source by Philippine Star

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Hobbled Talk N Text grateful for long rest

MANILA, Philippines -- The injury-riddled Talk N Text Tropang Texters are thankful that they are getting a long lay-off before starting their semi-finals series against the Petron Blaze Boosters.

The defending PBA Philippine Cup champions, the Texters finished second after the elimination round and gained a twice-to-beat advantage. They needed only one game to dispatch of seventh seed Barako Bull, 81-79, and advance to the semi-finals.

"It was important for us to win this, because we needed the long rest," TNT head coach Chot Reyes told PBA.ph after that game.

Talk N Text hobbled through much of the 14-game elimination round, as they saw key players go down due to injury.

Last season's most valuable player Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Jarred Dillinger, Ryan Reyes, and big men Ranidel de Ocampo, Aaron Aban and Ali Peek all sat out significant portions of their regular season campaign because of various injuries.

Thus, Reyes was thankful that his team got a 21-day lay-off, which will give his injured players enough time to heal.

"It was the driving motivation for us to get that long rest. Fortunately, we got it," he said.

Reyes revealed that the injured Texters "are undergoing aggressive treatment." "At the same time, we're balancing rest and recovery with practice and keeping in shape through this break," he added.

The Texters will be going against Petron, the team that derailed their Grand Slam aspirations during last season's Governors Cup.

TNT won both games during the elimination round, but Reyes remains wary of the Boosters, who swept the Meralco Bolts in their best-of-3 quarterfinals series.

"We're hoping everyone's ready by January 5," he said.

The semi-finals series between the Texters and the Boosters begin January 5 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

source by abs-cbnNEWS.com

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First in PBA: 8 straight semis games

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will open 2012 with 8 Philippine Cup semi-final games in 8 straight days.

The league has decided to give the viewing public a better chance to see all the Final 4 games, from January 4 to 11, according to PBA.ph.

One semi-final game will be played each night at 6:45 p.m.

“This nightly semi-final schedule makes it easier for the fans to be able to watch all our games live,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud in a statement.

“Those coming from work or school can catch the games from the start and because there’s only one game, they can also go home earlier,” he added.

The 8-game stretch is a first in PBA history.

The teams in the PBA Philippine Cup semi-finals are Petron Blazer Boosters, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, and Powerade Tigers.

The semi-finals begin on January 4 with Game 1 of the Rain or Shine vs Powerade series.

Petron and Talk ‘N Text will clash in another playoff showdown following two finals meetings last season.

source by abs-cbnNEWS.com

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Castro scores game-winner versus Barako to send Talk ‘N Text to PBA semis

Jayson Castro capped his career night with a game-winner, a well-challenged lay-up by Dylan Ababou, with 5.3 ticks left to lift Talk ‘N Text to an 81-79 come-from-behind thriller over Barako Bull and enter the semis of the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Castro droved hard to the basket and was contested well by the Energy rookie and Wynnie Arboleda’s long heave kissed the front of the rim and the Tropang Texters completed the amazing comeback.

“It was very hard. We have to play a very measured game because we couldn’t run as much as we wanted in the first half because we might not have gas enough left in the second half,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes.

“And key part of the game was we able to manage the minutes and fouls because we knew hindi kami tatagal if we play our usual game,” he added.

Castro set a new personal high of 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the floor. His previous high was 24.

Jimmy Alapag added 15 points and like Castro, logged in 38 minutes for the injury-plagued Texters, who now advance to the best-of-seven semis against the winner of the Meralco-Petron Blaze quarterfinal series.

Kelly Williams and Japeth Aguilar added 14 and 10 markers respectively and were responsible in trimming Barako Bull’s 14-point halftime lead and entered the final quarter trailing by only 3, 56-59.

Aguilar had two emphatic two-hand slams on that run.

The Texters grabbed the lead on Castro’s triple, 65-62 and were comfortably ahead at 77-70 with 1:33 remaining before Willie Miller singlehandedly unloaded a 9-2 bomb he capped with an acrobatic drive to tie the count at 79-all with 23.4 ticks remaining.

Then came Castro’s golden basket and Barako Bull had no timeout left that denied them to advance the ball and get a better look of a possible game-tying basket.

Mick Pennisi finished 16 markers to lead the Energy while Miller added 15. Dorian Pena chipped in 12 points and 12 boards for Barako Bull, which joined Shopinas.com and Alaska in the sidelines.

For Talk ‘N Text, the win was very crucial in defending its All-Filipino crown.

“That (health) is a real issue. That’s why importanteng manalo para makapahinga,” said Reyes, whose next game will be on January 4 next year, the start of the semifinal round.

The scores:

TALK N’ TEXT 81 – Castro 32, Alapag 15, Williams 14, Aguilar 10, Carey 8, Fonacier 2, Dillinger 0, Reyes 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.



BARAKO 79 – Pennisi 16, Miller 15, Pena 12, Seigle 9, Allado 9, Ababou 6, Arboleda 6, Salvacion 3, Gatumbato 2, Artadi 1, Aquino 0, Najorda 0.



Quarters: 17-25, 30-44, 56-59, 81-79

source InterAKTV

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B-Meg, Talk ‘N Text gun for PBA semis

MANILA, Philippines—B-Meg and Talk ‘N Text, the top two squads after the elimination phase of the PBA Philippine Cup, try to seal their respective places in the semifinals when they battle lower-ranked foes at the start of the playoffs Wednesday.

The Llamados, the No. 1 seed, take the Smart Araneta Coliseum floor first at 5:15 p.m. against a youthful Powerade side that is seeing action in this stage for the first time in the last eight conferences.

Defending champion Talk ‘N Text then battles dangerous, veterans-filled Barako Bull in the 7:30 p.m. game, needing just a win to advance to the last four like the Llamados.

The B-Meg-Powerade tussle will feature James Yap and Gary David, the tournament’s leading scorers, and pundits say whichever team backs up its superstar better will come out the winner.

When the Powerade offense is in top gear, the Tigers have proven to be very hard to stop. The Tigers ran over Talk ‘N Text in the elimination round by 35 points.

But the Llamados seem to have a more formidable arsenal with the likes of Joe Devance, Kerby Raymundo, Marc Pingris and Kerby Raymundo at Tim Cone’s disposal.

Cone turns 54 today and would like nothing less than a victory to be able to take the B-Meg closer to a title series stint.

Of equal interest is the Talk ‘N Text-Barako Bull match as it pits sides with diverse characteristics. The Texters thrives in the run-and-gun game while the Energy have proven to be the most deliberate squad in the lot owing to their core of veteran battlers.

The Texters might welcome back Ali Peek today, giving Chot Reyes’ crew added muscle inside to battle Barako Bull’s hulking slotmen like Dorian Peña and Mick Pennisi.

Peek will see action for the first time since the shooting incident where an assassin left him with a slug of a 22-caliber in the neck.

The winner of the B-Meg-Powerade series will advance to face the victor of the Ginebra-Rain or Shine series, a best-of-three affair that starts Friday, also at the Big Dome in Cubao.

Whoever comes out on top of the Talk ‘N Text-Barako Bull match-up, on the other hand, will draw the winner of the Petron Blaze-Meralco series

source by Musong R. Castillo Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Top teams cautious vs rivals

MANILA, Philippines — B-Meg and Talk ’N Text are armed with twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinal round of the PBA Philippine Cup which starts Friday, but against their underdog rivals, they can’t really be too confident.

“They beat us the last time,” said TNT mentor Chot Reyes, referring to the Barako Bull which his team will meet in the first game of the quarters.

The Energy are one of four squads which beat the Texters’ in the eliminations, 100-86, Oct. 19 during which TNT was held to just 38.5 percent shooting while allowing the Energy to convert 43.2 percent.

That was the only time both teams clashed during the elimination round.

The Tropang Texters are also coming from a 96-82 defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday night, which tied them with the Llamados for the best record after the eliminations with similar 10-4 records. B-Meg, however, got the No. 1 spot in the playoffs due to a superior quotient.

B-Meg, on the other hand, will tackle Powerade, which it downed 97-80 in their lone game last Oct. 26.

Coach Tim Cone, in his first season with B-Meg, is wary as well against Powerade, saying: “Our assignment is especially tough. Their young guys are really coming on strong and we’ve got to deal with it. Needless to say, we don’t want to go to a second game.”

Cone, of course, is talking about the Tigers’ rookies JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter and Rudy Lingganay, and sophomores Sean Anthony and Joshua Vanlandingham, who are all playing well with veterans like Gary David, Doug Kramer and Celino Cruz.

“It’s a short series, so we’ll have to be sharp right at the get go,” said Cone, whose team won its last eight games. “There’s very little margin for error and Powerade, outside of Ginebra, has been the hot team down the stretch of the conference.”

source By WAYLON GALVEZ mb.com.ph

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PBA: Texters, Kings vie for seeding

MANILA, Philippines—Interesting matches close out elimination round action in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday with Talk ‘N Text gunning for top spot in the quarterfinals against Barangay Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

That game is slated at 6:30 p.m. with the Tropang Texters hoping to nail the No. 1 seed and the lightest possible assignment in the playoffs and the Gin Kings eyeing a possible No. 3 position with a win.

Rain or Shine battles also-ran Alaska in the 4:15 p.m. game with the Elasto Painters needing a win to avoid an early showdown against idle powerhouse Petron Blaze.

As things stand, Talk ‘N Text can lose this match and lose very little since finishing No. 2 behind idle B-Meg would also mean a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs against the No. 7 squad.

But that would mean a technically tougher foe in Barako Bull compared to No. 8, the youthful Powerade squad. And it would put sister squad Meralco, the No. 6 seed, into a collision course with Petron Blaze.

Ginebra can gain No. 3 with a win coupled by an Alaska upset of the Elasto Painters. In this scenario, the B-Boys will be tangling with the Gin Kings in a best-of-three series while pitting Rain or Shine against Petron in another.

The Llamados and the Texters have earned quarterfinal incentives last week and B-Meg will be tangling with Powerade in the event of a Talk ‘N Text loss, or with the Energy if the Texters win.

Should Rain or Shine and Ginebra both prevail, they will wind up tied at 9-5 and will finish Nos. 4 and 3 because of the quotient system and set up a quarterfinal clash with Petron and Meralco meeting in the other series.

Talk ‘N Text is expected to come with the same short-handed lineup that has defied the odds in the tournament.

Super rookie Paul Lee is expected back in action for the Painters, who have never made it to the semifinals since joining the league four years ago. Lee was hit by an Ogie Menor knee on the shin last week and was rushed to a nearby hospital immediately after. All tests were negative, however.

source | By Musong R. Castillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

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PBA reports increases in attendance, gate receipts

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association is on track for another highly successful season if marked improvement in gate attendance, gate receipts and TV rating just in the elimination phase of the Philippine Cup is any indication.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud gladly reported today a 20-percent increase in attendance and 10-percent increase in receipts compared to what the league enjoyed over the same period last year.

AKTV Sports manager Vito Lazatin, meanwhile, announced steady improvement of the league’s TV viewership.

“We believe PBA fans who watch the games are going home very happy with their expectation met if not exceeded,” said Salud.

“Few months into the season and so far so good. TV rating is steadily improving and that’s because we’re seeing games that are exciting and thrilling,” Lazatin said.

Two months into their partnership with the PBA, Lazatin believed they have managed to heighten the Filipinos’ interest on the PBA games with the help of the sports channel’s successful “Kampihan Na!” campaign.

“It’s an important element to promote PBA. We compel fans to watch more and choose side. In every game, there’s always a side and we compel the fans to pick their team. That’s the rationale of ‘Kampihan,’” Lazatin said.

“So far, it’s going according to plan. It’s working and the PBA is right there at the forefront of our campaign,” added Lazatin.

AKTV is the primetime sports block on IBC 13, airing various sports programs like the PBA D-League, United Football League and Pacific X-Treme Combat.

The B-Meg Llamados-Ginebra Kings match was one of the most watched games, attracting a crowd of nearly 15,000. It’s also the second highest watched game on television based on Nielsen Media Ratings’ NUTAM data.

PBA and AKTV officials expect gate attendance and TV viewership to pick up even more with the Philippine Cup playoffs about to start.

Quarterfinal seedings will be finalized as Talk n Text tangles with Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine tackles Alaska Milk at the close of the elims on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Texters are chasing the top seeding while the Kings and the Elasto Painters are jockeying for position in the two best-of-three quarterfinals pairings.

The quarterfinal round begins Wednesday.


source By Nelson Beltran philstar.com

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Aguilar putback lifts Texters past Boosters

source | philstar.com | MANILA, Philippines – Talk n Text came through with four points on hustle plays in the last 3.7 seconds, an incredible feat leading to an 80-78 nail-biter over Petron Blaze and a guaranteed twice-to-beat incentive for the Texters in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Japeth Aguilar came in those dying seconds to grab a crucial offensive rebound and make a three-point play as the Texters salvaged the game that assured them of a spot in the Top Two at the close of the elimination phase.

The reigning champs secure top seeding in the playoffs with a win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday.

Petron wound up at 9-5, in danger of being relegated to the best-of-three series in the quarters.

“One thing this game showed was how big our heart is,” said an ecstatic Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

“We were playing minus five mainstays then we lost Jimmy Alapag and Jason Castro. Half of our team were gone. But then the guys showed their heart. It’s all guts,” Reyes added.

The two teams fought big plays for big plays in the homestretch with Petron Blaze going up, 78-76, on a three-point play by Alex Cabagnot with 12.8 ticks left.

Shawn Weinsten missed his shot on a drive in the ensuing play but the Texters never gave up, fighting for the loose ball until Harvey Carey got it then drew a crucial foul from Arwind Santos.

Carey canned in the front end of his free throws and missed the last one.

Alas, the muffed free throw opened the opportunity for the Texters to snatch the win.

Aguilar beat everybody for the rebound and quickly scored the go-ahead shot.

With a foul to boot, the 6-foot-9 center sank the gift shot making it 80-78 in the end.

The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 80 – Williams 21, Fonacier 17, Carey 15, Castro 8, Weinstein 6, Gamalinda 4, Alvarez 4, Aguilar 3, Lao 2, Raymundo 0, Alapag 0.

PETRON 78 – Miranda 15, Cabagnot 14, Yeo 12, Santos 11, Reyes 9, Ildefonso 8, Tugade 5, Guevarra 4, Doruelo 0, Baclao 0.

Quarters: 23-28, 29-40, 57-53, 80-78

By Nelson Beltran

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Texters seek q'final edge vs Boosters

source | The Philippine Star | MANILA, Philippines - Whether just trying to downplay their chance or challenging his players, Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes insists they would need a miracle to stay on top at the end of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round.

The Tropang Texters try to put a lock on a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage as they take on the Petron Blaze Boosters in a crucial faceoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Boosters, for their part, are out to clinch at least a playoff shot for the coveted quarters incentive. A win by a big margin could automatically assure Petron of the crucial advantage.

The Texters and the Boosters clash at 7:30 p.m. after the 5:30 p.m. tiff between the Barako Bull Energy and the Powerade Tigers.

Barako, meanwhile, is chasing a spot in the Top Six to avoid a quarterfinal rival carrying a twice-to-beat advantage.

“We’ve long given up thinking about the twice-to-beat. Our focus is to win as many games as we can and we don’t expect too much,” said Reyes.

“We hope we can compete, but chances are we might find ourselves playing in the best-of-three. We need to find some miracle ways to beat Petron and Ginebra, but the way we’re playing now, we have no chance,” Reyes added.

The multi-titled Talk n Text mentor said a spate of injuries to his key players hampered their campaign.

“We’re on top on the strength of our old team. Chemistry and depth have been our strength but with all our injuries, it took away our chemistry,” rued Reyes.

He made the observation after barely surviving Alaska following back-to-back losses to Powerade and B-Meg.

“We are a poor team right now. We have poor spirits; we have no guts; we have no defense,” he said.

Reyes insists there’s no way they can compete with the elite teams if they can’t rediscover their old courage and spirit.

Reyes is especially wary of the Petron team that is returning from a two-point defeat to Barangay Ginebra the last time out.

That loss, coupled by Talk n Text’s 100-97 decision over Alaska Milk, relegated Petron to joint second with B-Meg at 9-4.

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