Maybe this time, the Tigers look destined to make it.
The heart-break franchise exposed Talk ‘N Text as a vulnerable team Sunday night, dealing the PBA Philippine Cup defending champions their second worst defeat in franchise history while snapping a three-year victory drought over the mighty ball club in a 131-96 win at the Araneta Coliseum.
Powerade flicked 38 assists and shot 54.4 percent from the field (49-of-90) – both franchise conference highs – and scored 33 points off the Tropang Texters’ 24 turnovers in a victory that gave the Tigers their fifth triumph that applied a tremendous amount of pressure on Alaska in the race for the final spot in the playoffs.
“I was just encouraging them to make sure that they should not be afraid to win,” said Tigers’ coach Bo Perasol. “They have to believe that they have what it takes to win. We should be pounding them. We should believe that we are as talented as well.”
Talk ‘N Text was eyeing to extend its winning streak to seven games, but its resolve to survive opponents without key men came to a halt, cut down by Powerade’s impeccable outside shooting led no less by the scoring sensation himself, Gary David, who scored 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor.
This was the second worst defeat in franchise history for Talk ‘N Text after the 110-73 loss it absorbed against Purefoods in the 1998 Commissioner’s Cup on July 5, 1998, and Powerade finally ended a long losing streak to the Texters after 13 straight defeats. The last time the franchise won against Texters was in 1998 when the team was still known as Coca-Cola and under head coach Binky Favis.
The Texters suffered their only second defeat in the tournament, but still remain at the top of the standings on 8-2. They came into the match missing Jimmy Alapag (ankle), Jared Dillinger (heel), Aaron Aban (ACL), Ryan Reyes (MCL) and Ali Peek, who made a surprise appearance Sunday night. A survivor of a gunshot last Nov. 6, Peek remains doubtful whether he could play for the remainder of the conference.
“Without four of our key defensive players (Dillinger, Reyes, Peek, and Aban), we’re back to being the worst defensive team and it showed tonight,” posted TNT coach Chot Reyes at Twitter.
So devastating were the Tigers that they claimed a 26-point lead at the half, and went up by as many as 71-40. Talk ‘N Text, however, came to within 77-63, only to allow Powerade to unload a 13-2 run to practically seal the outcome, 90-65.
Kelly Williams led the Texters with 18 points but only had four rebounds, while Harvey Carey contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds. The 35-point win was the second highest margin this conference next only to the 139-95 triumph by Rain or Shine against Meralco last Oct. 30.
The Elasto Painters, though, are far from their old form these last few games, dropping their fourth match in a row following a 106-102 defeat at the hands of Barako Bull.
The Energy thus snapped a three-game losing slide and got back at the Painters who defeated them the first time they met (93-81) while staying slightly clear off ball clubs chasing a slot in the quarter-finals.
“We treated tonight’s game and the next few games as if we’re already in the playoffs,” said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi. “We’re still in danger of missing the playoffs.” Mick Pennisi had 22 points – his highest output the past four seasons – to go with nine rebounds while Dylan Ababou bounced back from a pair of abysmal performances with 21 points and seven rebounds. Willie Miller, the two-time MVP, added 16 points and seven assists while Danny Seigle contributed 14 points and seven rebounds.
Paul Lee scored 24 points and dished off seven assists for the Painters, who trailed by as many as 97-79 in the fourth quarter. They came to within 104-102, but Pennisi sank two free throws with 6.1 seconds left to make it a four-point ball game and Rain or Shine never got a clean look at the basket.
