Alaska goes 5-0 after easy win over Talk ‘N Text

Alaska has had a tough early schedule in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
But the Aces seem to be posing this question: “So what?” The Aces last night, in what was supposed to be another test, dismantled yet another powerhouse in Talk ‘N Text and rolled to surprisingly easy 92-69 bamboozling of Tropang Texters to remain on top of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup heap at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska broke away in the third period, racing to leads of as many as 73-44 before cruising to their fifth straight win and extend the finest ever start in the post-Tim Cone era.
“I have warriors in my team,” coach Luigi Trillo told reporters later as his Aces fought hard and never budged an inch against the most balanced powerhouse team this league has seen in the last two decades.
“With that being said, Talk ‘N Text is just one team and you have to go through the other teams,” Trillo added. “And you don’t beat Talk ‘N Text the way we did them tonight.
“There was the element of hard work on our part and a bit of good fortune on our part.” Talk ‘N Text came out of the halftime break as cold as it could be, converting on just 2-of-21 from the field to let the game slip away.
Curiously, that clip was the second worst in franchise history, just a tad better than the 1-for-21 that the Tropang Texters shot in 2001 when they were under the reins of Louie Alas, who now serves as Trillo’s assistant at Alaska.
Import Robert Dozier shot 23 points and had 18 rebounds and a solid local effort made the Aces an unbeatable lot – at least against Talk ‘N Text last night – as Alaska soothed some of the pain away of being eliminated by the Texters in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup two months ago.
Petron Blaze was another side that kept its winning streak intact, winning a fourth straight earlier in the night after posting a 60-53 decision of Air21.
Renaldo Balkman scattered 25 points that went with 13 rebounds, pacing the Boosters to their fourth straight win and a 4-1 card for solo second place as the Boosters survived one of the worst scoring night of their franchise.
Petron’s total was the fewest winning score in franchise history and its 60 points was the sixth lowest winning score — all-time — in the league.
The Express lost for the fourth straight night and scored the fewest points in the history of their PBA existence that equalled the seventh lowest scoring game by any team in the PBA.
“It was a defensive game and the score showed it,” Petron Blaze coach Olsen Racela said. “At halftime, I told the guys that I didn’t care if it was a low-scoring game or not.
“What matters is that we should also make our stop,” added Racela, who is enjoying the longest winning streak of his young coaching career. “And there were stretches where we couldn’t get anything.” Petron actually scored just seven points in the third period, but Balkman hit three straight baskets to open up the fourth and give the Boosters the momentum that they needed.
Air21 dropped into a tie for last place with idle Barangay Ginebra at 1-4.