Larry Fonacier got his game going in the third quarter and Jared Dillinger provided the finishing
touches in Talk N’ Text’s 110-102 victory over San Miguel Beer in Game 2 of their PBA Philippine Cup titular series Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
After a 0 for 3 shooting in the first half, Fonacier scored eight quick points including two huge
3-pointers as TnT opened the third with 10-0 run that separated the game apart.
Then Dillinger, the tireless TnT forward took over in the fourth, knocking shots after shots when the Beermen were trying to claw back in the game.
“It was very important for us to win this game because we don’t have Ryan (Reyes) in our next
game,” said TnT coach Chot Reyes, referring to his defensive point guard, who left for the states after the game to attend the burial of his brother who died in a car crash.
Dillinger matched his conference high with points to show the way for the Tropang Texters, who now lead the series two games to nil. They need just two more wins to clinch their third all-Filipino championship and first since 2007.
Jason Castro, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo each scored 15 points, Harvey Carey added 11 and Ali Peek had 10 and 12 rebounds for the TnT which made 10 of 21 2-point attempts.
Despite the situation they are in, SMB coach Ato Agustin remains unfazed.
“We are down 2-0. But they need four wins to win the title. Hindi pa tapos ang laban,” Agustin
declared.
Overall, defense was key for the TnT in Game Two. The Tropang Texters held SMB to 43 percent shooting (36 of 82) and kept the Beer men struggling with their shots by contesting every attempt their opponents take.
“We are up 2-and-0. If this is a best of three I would be hugging everyone in this room,” said
Alapag during a post-game interview. “But this is a best-of-seven series. We got a long way to
go,”
TnT took the game’s biggest lead at 99-86 on two free throws by Ali Peek with 4:40 remaining.
SMB countered with a 12-4 blast to pull within 100-103 and kept the game exciting but went
scoreless in the final 1:22.
The two teams waged a fierce battle in the first half with neither camp leading no more than six
points. The lead also change hands 13 times while score was tied on four occasions.
Jimmy Alapag hit a 3-pointer and Jared Dillinger scored four straight points in transition to caped 9-0 run that gave TnT a 34-28 lead.
But respoded with a 9-2 spurt including seven consecutive points from Arwind Santos to prevent the Tropang Texters from pulling away and kept the score close. (DBC)
The scores:
Talk N' Text 110 - Dillinger 20, Castro 15, De Ocampo 15, Alapag 15, Carey 11, Peek 10, Fonacier 8, Reyes 7, Williams 7, Aban 2.
San Miguel 102 - Washington 20, Cabagnot 18, Santos 14, Seigle 12, Hontiveros 10, Pena 8, Salvacion 6, Racela 6, Ildefonso 6, Miranda 2, Yeo 0, Artadi 0, Pennisi 0.
Quarters: 21-22, 42-40, 73-69, 110-102
