Texters overpower injury-riddled Llamados

Talk 'N Text started slow, but ended the game with a big bang, subduing injury-riddled defending champion B-Meg Derby Ace, 87-76, in Wednesday night’s main game of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters found themselves trailing 15-5 early in the opening half of the first period, but fought their way back behind Jared Dillinger’s second-quarter heroics to take control of the highly-physical ballgame. The win spoiled the PBA coaching debut of multi-titled amateur mentor Jorge Gallent, who took over the spot vacated by Ryan Gregorio over at the Derby Ace camp. With Dillinger scoring 12 of his team-high 18 points in the first half, the Tropang Texters found themselves on top for good by halftime, 44-36. “We kind of started slow. But we settled down beginning the second quarter and took control of the game," said Dillinger. The Tropang Texters outscored the Llamados, playing without injured starters Kerby Raymundo, Mark Pingris and Rafi Reavies, in the second period, 27-13. Jonas Villanueva was the lone bright spot for the Llamados during that stretch, accounting for nine of his game-high 20 markers. Harvey Carey added 17 points and 17 rebounds for Talk 'N Text, which also got 13 from Jayson Castro, 12 from Ryan Reyes and 11 from Larry Fonacier. Fonacier’s five-point cluster, which he highlighted with a booming trey, put the Tropang Texters safely in front, 80-66, with 5:44 to go. The defending champion took its final stand at the three minute mark as Don Allado converted an open jumper to make it 82-74. But Dillinger scored on a drive to stretch Talk `N Text’s lead to 10 in the final 1:57. Reigning two-time MVP James Yap, still recovering from an operation that removed a polyp from his nose, contributed 13 points and hit three straight three-pointers during one stretch in the third period, just before teammate Rico Maierhofer and Ali Peek engaged in a heated rebound battle that resulted in a technical foul called on the stocky Talk `N Text big man. - RCJ, GMANews.TV