TALK ‘N Text leaned on its strong local crew for much of the game to nip Rain or Shine, 83-81, in the PBA Governors Cup road game Wednesday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The outcome of the tightly-fought contest was in doubt until the final possession when Paul Lee missed a wide-open three-point shot from top of the key that bounced hard off the back iron, allowing the Tropang Texters to walk away with their second win in three starts.
Talk `N Text won despite new import Rodney Carney struggling in his league debut after arriving in the country past midnight of Tuesday,
Carney, the 16th overall pick in the NBA’s 2006 Rookie Draft, was still feeling the effects of jetlag after coming over on short notice as late replacement for original choice Othyus Jeffers.
The NBA veteran managed to score 13 points, but had only two in the second half.
Jimmy Alapag took the cudgels for the struggling Carney after sparking the Tropang Texters’ offense with a team-high 15 points while dishing off five assists.
The 5-foot-6 Talk `N Text guard opened the final period with back-to-back three-point shots, touching off a 13-3 bomb that enabled the team to grab a 75-66 lead.
Two other local players scored in double figures for the Tropang Texters led by NIno Canaleta’s 15 points and Larry Fonaicer, who scored seven of his 14 markers in the final quarter.
Rain or Shine, which registered its first win on Sunday, a 119-97 ripping of Globalport, fell to 1-3 overall in a tie with Barako Bull for eighth to ninth spots in the standings.
The Energy earlier lost to the San Miguel Beermen in overtime, 115-112.
The scores
TALK N' TEXT (83) -- Alapag 15, Canaleta 15, Fonacier 14, Carney 13, De Ocampo 9, Williams 6, Carey 4, Reyes Ryan 2, Baclao 2, Castro 2, Reyes Rob 1.
RAIN OR SHINE (81) -- Reid 19, Chan 12, Almazan 9, Lee 8, Rodriguez 8, Tang 7, Tiu 5, Norwood 5, Arana 4, Belga 2, Cruz 2, Ibanes 0, Uyloan 0.
Quarterscores: 28-26; 45-41; 61-63; 83-81.
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