jimmy-alapag-vs-dondon-hontiveros-semifinals-2008-2009-philippine-cup

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

The San Miguel Beermen are practically dragging their feet due to fatigue as they were outscored, outrebounded, and outhussled by the well rested Talk N Text Tropang Texters and got massacred in the process, 129-100.

Talk N Text even got lucky when their long range bombs sinked in. Add to the injury are the countless turnovers that the team have enabling the Tropang Texters to get a big turnover points.

The good thing is that Jay Washington seems to have recovered from his minor shoulder injury. That’s a good sign as he will be a big factor in the next games. He carried the fight for the Beermen alongside Mick Pennisi.

Renren Ritualo lead the Talk N Text Tropang Texters with 24 points coming off the bench.

That’s it for today folks! I am also experiencing fatigue factors here. Hahaha. Kindly read the full news story from our friends from the Philippine Basketball Association(pba.ph).

TNT BLASTS SMB IN SERIES OPENER
Tropang Texters’ guns ablaze
Wednesday, 14 January 2009

Back in action after almost a three-week layoff, Talk n Text jumped out of the gate and beat the weary San Miguel Beer side by a mile in the opener of their KFC PBA Philippine Cup Final Four showdown at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

The Tropang Texters rained down a record-tying 23 three-pointers on the Beermen and carved out a lopsided 129-100 win at the start of their own best-of-seven semis showdown.

But to Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, the series is just starting Friday.

“In my mind, the series is just about to start,” said Reyes.

“We knew San Miguel was very tired coming from the wildcard round and the Ginebra (quarterfinals) series. We were worried how sharp we would be but we’re really thinking on relying on our energy,” Reyes explained.

“But it’s just one game in a long series. They were able to rest their key players in this game. Now, we have to be ready for their big fightback,” Reyes added.

Renren Ritualo, Mark Cardona, Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, Yancy de Ocampo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jared Dillinger and Yousif Aljamal combined for the triples matching the all-time league most number the same team established last conference.

San Miguel knocked in 11 three-pointers in the game ending up as the highest-scoring regulation game in the season thus far.

Connecting practically from all corners, the Tropang Texters pounded and pummeled the Beermen right in the first quarter and completed the rout for the decisive head start in the series.

It was lopsided from the opening period with the Tropang Texters shooting 57.7 percent from the field and overwhelming the Beermen, 39-18.

Surprisingly sharp and in great shape though coming from a long respite, the Tropang Texters took the half at 64-38 and sustained their domination of the badly stunned Beermen up to the finish.

The Tropang Texters curiously shot better from the three-point range (54.8 percent) than from the two-point zone (45.3 percent) in dealing the Beermen the 29-point blowout — the third worst defeat in coach Siot Tanquingcen’s defeat.

The De Ocampo brothers, Alapag, Castro and Cardona combined for nine triples in the first quarter alone.

Ritualo, Cardona, Alapag, Castro and Yancy de Ocampo each pumped in at least three treys and all finished with at least 14 points.

Left behind early, the Beermen weren’t able to put a fight anymore, struggling so much in their sixth game in the playoff phase of the All-Filipino tourney.

Essentially, San Miguel, a wildcard round survivor, was into the game only in the initial salvos, engaging Talk n Text in two deadlocks and one lead change.

The Tropang Texters broke the game wide open early on an dizzying 18-to-nothing run from a 10-8 count. (NC)

The scores:

Talk n Text 129 — Ritualo 24, Cardona 21, Alapag 20, Castro 17, De Ocampo Y. 14, De Ocampo R. 10, Carey 8, Peek 7, Dillinger 5, Aljamal 3, Reyes 0, Lao 0.

San Miguel 100 — Washington 29, Pennisi 19, Pingris 11, Seigle 10, Hontiveros 9, Gonzales 6, Villanueva 5, Custodio 4, Tugade 4, Baguion 2, Pena 1, Bono 0.

Quarterscores: 39-18, 64-38, 100-65, 129-100