MANILA, 25 October 2007 — Derrick Pumaren described the last Talk ‘N Text game as like “being in a torture chamber.”
The Phone Pals wasted no time regaining their senses.
Talk ‘N Text mangled Barangay Ginebra in the second half last night, coming out as hard-nosed as its foes to post a 111-102 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Mac Cardona was the one who posted the biggest turnaround, coming back from lackluster performances in the first two games to score 20 and grab nine boards and lead the Phone Pals to their second win in three tries.
The Gin Kings, the defending champions here, ran into a team that played as physical as they did and dropped to 1-1.
“In the last two days of practice, I kept telling them that the most important thing right now is how we bounce back,” Pumaren said, using a 96-112 loss to Purefoods, as a a motivational tool.
Jimmy Alapag and Felix Belano dominated the guard match-up, each shooting 17 points to take Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Johnny Abarrientos and Paul Artadi out of the equation.
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico actually utilized a fourth point guard, rookie Macky Escalona. But both he and Abarrientos wound up scoreless and Helterbrand and Artadi could only combine for 20 points.
Ronald Tubid paced the Kings with 22 points in 23 minutes, but he went scoreless in the fourth quarter, just about the same time when Cardona ran amuck and led the Phone Pals to several 18-point spreads.
Red Bull got the goods from Junthy Valenzuela earlier to survive a walking-wounded Welcoat side, 86-75, for its first win in two games.
Valenzuela highlighted a scorching fourth quarter by scoring 11 straight points in one stretch to finish with 16 for the period and 27 for the game and lift the Barako over the Dragons.
Top draft pick Joe Devance still played with a slight limp and failed to rescue the Dragons for the second straight game despite finishing with a team-high 19 points.
But Welcoat was in control when the pain allowed him to play at full throttle as the Dragons ended the first half with a seven-point lead only to lose steam when winning time came.
It was the second straight loss for the Dragons, who had pinned their hopes on the 6-foot-7 Devance this season. But the Criminal Justice studies graduate suffered a right ankle sprain before the start of the season and has yet to be 100%.
Valenzuela led the team in scoring for the second straight game in filling the void left by fellow swingman Lordy Tugade and Larry Fonacier, who were dealt to San Miguel in separate parts of last season. “I am just really trying to step up in their absence,” Valenzuela, a native of Cebu , told reporters in Filipino.
Devance was utilized for 22 minutes, but it was clear that he still lacked the mobility to be the dominant player he is envisioned to be. When he was still fresh, Devance scored 14 of his total in the second quarter to shove the Dragons to a 42-35 lead at halftime.
