BACOLOD—Ryan Reyes, a vital cog in Talk ‘N Text’s campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup, will miss Game 3 of the best-of-seven title series between the Tropang Texters and the San Miguel Beermen on Friday.
Reyes is leaving for the United States on Thursday to attend the wake of his brother Alan Raymond, a 26-year-old physical therapist who died in a car accident last Jan. 19 in Anaheim, California.
Game 2 is slated Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome, and Reyes’ absence would certainly make Talk ‘N Text the slight underdog in Game 3.
Reyes tossed in 13 points, six of them during Talk ‘N Text’s breakaway in the fourth quarter, and produced the on-court hustle his team needed as the Texters took the opener, 91-82, Saturday night at the Victorias City Sports
Center in Victorias.
The Talk ‘N Text guard declined to discuss details of his brother’s death, but a check on Google revealed that a drunk driver, 21-year-old South Gate resident Anthony Louis Fragoso rammed his Mercedes-Benz head-on on Reyes’ Toyota Scion.
Alan Raymond, according to the report posted on the californiainjurylawyer.com website, was thrown out of his car on impact and died on the spot, along with his girlfriend, 24-year-old Vanessa Cease.
Ryan is expected back Saturday night, on the eve of Game 4.
Reyes’ great play Saturday added to the woes of San Miguel Beer, whose top offensive threat, Jay Washington, was rendered helpless by a case of cramps which he said “has never happened to me before.”
Washington cramped up on both legs early in the third period and headed to the locker room for treatment.
“It’s just utterly frustrating,” the 6-foot-7 Washington told reporters at the airport here as the PBA delegation awaited its flight back to the Manila. “I really cannot do anything (on the floor) after that.”
Game 1 was played on even terms until the fourth period when, with Washington on the bench getting treatment, Talk ‘N Text scored 10 unanswered points at the start of the period.
Washington returned with 5:27 left and made a three-pointer that lifted the Beermen within three points. But with momentum on their side, the Texters pulled away again.
Musong Castillo, Phil. Daily Inquirer
