MANILA, 7 July 2007 — This one was simply unbelievable that even the one who masterminded it all couldn’t believe his eyes.
Alaska dominated Talk ‘N Text in a manner the pundits thought was not possible after the Aces last night destroyed the Phone Pals in the second half for a 113-86 victory and a 1-0 lead in their PBA Fiesta Cup title series at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I’m shocked,” Alaska coach Tim Cone said after the game, witnessed by a lean crowd of less than 6,000. “I don’t know how we were able to win this way with the kind of talent that they (Phone Pals) have.
“But we can’t be satisfied with this victory because this is just one out of seven (games in the series).” Alaska erased a 17-point deficit early in the second quarter, scooting away from late in that period onwards for the comfortable win, a far cry from what the experts, and even the coaches themselves, said would be a close game.
Rosell Ellis was brilliant all around, finishing with a triple double with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, a section in the statistics sheet which the entire Talk ‘N Text team was only able to match.
Alaska snared a total of 60 rebounds compared to the 38 of the hulking Phone Pals and the Aces were so unrelenting that they scored 27 points off second chances compared to only two by Talk ‘N Text.
“In the beginning, I thought we weren’t mentally ready to lay it all on the line,” Cone added. “And to tell you the truth, I didn’t know that (in the first half) it was going to be our night.” The Aces trailed early in the second period, 19-36, but quickly put their acts together to take a 45-44 lead into the lemontime break.
Mike Cortez and Willie Miller also showed Mac Cardona who’s the backcourt boss.
Miller scored 22 points and Cortez 20 aside from putting the cuffs on Cardona the entire night, which helped doom the Phone Pals.
Cardona, who came into the game averaging close to 28 points a game in the playoffs and 21 for the tournament, was held to just 13 markers by Alaska ‘s brilliant defense.
And the former La Salle ace showed his disappointment in one driving play in the fourth period when Cortez tagged him hard. The former Green Archers, teammates in two UAAP champion squads, went at it face to face and got called for technical fouls.
“We’ve said at the start of the series that there are no friends in a game like this,” Cone later said. “Yes, I like that foul that Mike gave (Cardona). It was a hard, clean foul with no intention to hurt.
“And it clearly got our message across.” Protecting that one-point halftime lead, the Aces scored in spurts for the whole of the third period, none more telling than 14-6 run that made it 82-61, a lead that all but took the fight out of the Phone Pals.
JJ Sullinger scored 25 points to pace the Phone Pals, but 12 of those came when the outcome was already beyond doubt as Cone praised the defensive job his wards pulled off against Talk ‘N Text’s top two guns.
Meanwhile, James Penny scored 27 points and Cyrus Baguio dropped 10 of his 18 in the fourth period that led to a 103-96 Red Bull victory over San Miguel in the battle for third place.
“Third place is not a bad finish, especially with what we’ve been through (this year),” coach Yeng Guiao said. “I’m very proud of our finish.” Guiao talked like he preferred finishing third rather than second.
“This is a good starting block in our preparation for the All-Filipino (which opens the next season),” Guiao said. “We want to start the (next) season in the right manner, and that is ending our season on a winning note.”
In a related development, the next season opens on Sept. 23 with a bill dubbed “Super Sunday” as all10 teams will play in the country’s three major islands.
Four teams will play in Luzon, another four in Cebu and two will see action in General Santos in the most ambitious opening day the league will host in its existence.
