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Williams torches former team, gives Texters 8th straight win


Kelly Williams torched his former team with 19 points as Talk `N Text cruised past Sta. Lucia, 92-78, to book its eighth straight win in the PBA Fiesta Cup Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum. The former league most valuable player (MVP) also added 12 rebounds in his most scintillating showing yet since coming over from a blockbuster three-team, nine-player trade two weeks ago. “We don’t want to rock the boat that’s why we try hard to quickly jell with the team," said the 6-foot-5 Fil-Am forward. It was the third consecutive victory for the Tropang Texters since acquiring Williams and Ryan Reyes from the Realtors. At the same time, the team extended its winning run in the import-laden meet to stay in solo second at 8-2 behind defending champion and league leader San Miguel (10-1). Despite the easy win, coach Chot Reyes believes his team has yet to reach its full potential. “We’re still a work in progress," he admitted, but stressing that “we formed a team that is versatile, one that can score and play defense." Ranidel de Ocampo added 14 points, MacMac Cardona with 12 and Jimmy Alapag had 12 and 10 assists. Sta. Lucia lost for the second straight game and went down to 4-7 in a tie with Coca-Cola. Anthony Johnson finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds, but didn’t get enough local support as only rookie guard Josh Urbiztondo managed to finish in double figures with 13. The Realtors held their own early in the first half, taking a 24-23 lead after 12 minutes of play. But the moment the Tropang Texters’ second unit, led by Williams and Jared Dillinger, took over in the second period, there was nothing the Realtors could do. Halftime ended with Talk `N Text already on top by 15 as the Realtors scored only 13 before the break. “Our second unit played very well and helped us tonight," said Reyes, whose team is coming off a 25-point rout of Derby Ace the last time. An Alapag assist on a cutting Reyes with three minutes remaining gave the Tropang Texters one of their several 19-point leads, 84-65. - JVP/RCJ, GMANews.TV

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