Texters avert another endgame collapse on Cardona triple

Thanks to Macmac Cardona's clutch plays at the finish, Talk n Text avoided what could have been another heartbreaker.

Cardona came through with a three-point play and a triple in the closing seconds, and the Tropang Texters averted total collapse, salvaging a 124-122 win over the Alaska Milk Aces in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Astrodome Friday night.

The Tropang Texters blew away a 19-point lead early in the fourth but survived, getting back on the winning track after bowing to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters the last time out where they squandered a 24-point spread.

"Even before the game, I didn't want to think about Alaska. I was concerned with our own game. We just can't be consistent," said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

"It's really a cause for concern. We can't hold on to a big lead. We can be explosive in one stretch but play so very bad in the next stretch. Good thing there will be a league break. Hopefully, we can do something with our game," Reyes added.

Bouncing back from their 133-135 defeat to Energy Boosters Sunday, the Texters hit the .500 mark with three wins against three losses, going into the 12-day league break.

"I really feel we're very lucky to be at .500. We're blessed. I do think the efforts we dished out in our first six games warranted us the worst record in the tourney," Reyes said.

Alaska failed to complete a come-from-behind win, suffering a second straight defeat and reeling to 2-5 overall.

Erasing an 82-101 deficit, the Aces engaged the Texters in a fierce endgame battle only to yield the game just the same as they failed to convert a basket in the last 15 seconds of play.

Joe Devance misfired a potential game-winning three-point attempt then Rosell Ellis was caught stepping on the baseline after grabbing the offensive rebound.

Alaska had just tied the game at 118-all when Cardona came through with a three-point play off Devance to push TnT back on top.

Then after Alaska seized a one-point lead at 122-121 on back-to-back baskets by Devance, Cardona again came to TnT's rescue, rifling a booming trey on a kick-out by Ranidel de Ocampo.

Tiras Wade delivered much of the firepower for TnT early on before concentrating on defense versus Rosell Ellis in the fourth quarter.

"A big credit goes to Wade for defending well against Ellis at the finish. Ang problema lang napagod at hindi na nakaopensa nung huli. Pero talagang ganon, give and take," said Reyes in lauding his import who knocked in seven triples and finished with a game-high 35 points.

Jared Dillinger and Jimmy Alapag had double-double games but Cardona stole the thunder in the end.

Ellis wound up with 30 points and 17 rebounds with Devance contributing 20 points and LA Tenorio and Willie Miller 18 apiece for Alaska.

Renren Ritualo sat out the rematch of the Philippine Cup finalists, ending his streak of 278 games played. He was about to tie Dante Gonzalgo's record of 280 games at second behind Alvin Patrimonio's 596.

Ellis and Wade engaged in an early shootout, starring for their respective teams as the Aces and the Texters figured in 10 deadlocks and 12 lead changes in the first half.

The Alaska import had 19 points as against his TnT counterpart's 17 in the first 24 minutes which ended with the Aces four points up at 62-58.

The Aces converted 61.1 percent of their shots, making up for their poor showing in rebounds and assists.

Ellis drew huge help from Tenorio and Miller in the first half with the Alaska backcourt tandem combining for 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. (NC)

The scores:

Talk N' Text 124 - Wade 35, Dillinger 17, Alapag 17, Cardona 16, De Ocampo 10, Peek 10, Castro 9, Carey 5, Aljamal 3, Reyes 2.

Alaska 122 - Ellis 30, De Vance 20, Tenorio 18, Miller 18, Fonacier 15, Hugnatan 9, Thoss 8, Ferriols 4, Borboran 0.

Quarterscores: 32-26, 58-62, 99-82, 124-122.


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