Llamados upset Texters; Kings ground Express

James Yap and Jerwin Gaco scored the needed points in the final period to help defending champion B-Meg Derby Ace hack out a 104-97 upset win over Talk ‘N Text in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. In the second game, Barangay Ginebra turned back Air21, 107-81, as the Gin Kings joined the Tropang Texters at second place with 5-2 slates behind league-leading San Miguel’s 6-1 record. With the game tied at 88-all midway in the payoff period, Yap and Gaco scored eight points each in Derby Ace’s 10-2 run for a 98-90 Llamados spread with 3:33 left in the game. Yap scattered a conference-high of 24 points, including eight in the fourth period as the Llamados ended a two-game slide and improved to a 2-5 card. Peter June Simon provided scoring support with his own conference-high 23 points behind a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from downtown. Talk ‘N Text scored five straight points in a two-minute stretch with Jared Dillinger finishing with a lay-up in the 1:23 mark of the contest as the Texters came to within three, 95-98. But Derby Ace used a closing 6-2 exchange, highlighted by Jonas Villanueva’s wide-open jumper, to complete the win. “We just started flat. My guards played great today. I can’t ask for anything more. They matched up very well against Talk ‘N Text’s guards. It’s the second game that we out-rebounded the opposition. I hope this is the start of something good for us,’’ said Llamados coach Jorge Gallent. Villanueva, another capable backcourt scorer, and Gaco came off the bench to score 17 and 12 points each. Gaco also had eight rebounds. Derby Ace started out slow and fell behind by 16 points, 22-38, early in the second period before they outscored the Texters, 32-15, to take a slim 54-53 halftime lead. Williams paced the Texters with 22 points along with 10 rebounds while Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey scored 18 and 15 each. Dillinger and Jason Castro had 12 apiece. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV