MANILA, 23 April 2008 — What was supposed to be a learning game for Talk ‘N Text turned out to be a record-setting performance that kept the Phone Pals rolling in the Fiesta Cup.
Talk ‘N Text, just the third most accurate three-point shooting team, pelted Air21 with 23 treys that broke one of the longest standing records in the PBA last night for a 116-99 victory in the eliminations at the Cuneta Astrodome. Jimmy Alapag hit 7-of-9 of his attempts and Ren-Ren Ritualo and Don Allado had four each as the Phone Pals shattered the 18-year-old mark held by two defunct Presto teams built around ‘The Triggerman’ Allan Caidic. “Wow was all coach Chot Reyes could say after the massacre of the Express, who lagged behind by as many as 22 points early in the third period for one of their most lopsided losses of the season.
“This was supposed to be a learning game for this team today, since we were playing without Jay ( Washington ),” Reyes explained. “But wow, 23 three-pointers in 39 attempts? It’s hard to lose if you shoot that way.”
Those 23 triples now rank as the all-time high by a team, easily erasing the 18 set by Presto twice, the first in 1989 and the second in 1991 with Caidic shooting all but four of those baskets. Caidic, who now sits as an assistant to Jong Uichico on the Barangay Ginebra bench, hit the all-time individual record of 17 on Nov. 21, 1991 in a 162-149 victory by the Tivoli over Ginebra.
Two years before, the left-handed gunslinger scattered 15 in a 175-159 Presto triumph over Alaska . Those marks, though, remain to be the yardstick among all-comers, staying at 1-2 overall in the all-time list.
The win was the fourth in six games for the Phone Pals, who sustained their ascent, while the loss was the third in five games for the Express, who got 21 points and 14 rebounds from import Steve Thomas. Talk ‘N Text also made more triples than two-pointers and free throws. The Phone Pals made just 19 field goal attempts and 9-of-16 freebies, a mark that could go down as probably a first in the league. The Phone Pals completed the bombardment of the Express even with import Aaron McGhee being carried out late in the second quarter because of a badly-twisted ankle after a drive-in play.
McGhee, though, already contributed two triples to that total to finish with 16 points and nine rebounds before stepping out in just 17 minutes on the floor. Washington was nursing an injury in the arc of his left foot, while McGhee’s foot will be X-rayed after some of the swelling subsides before team doctors are able to evaluate the extent of his injury.
So impressive was the Talk ‘N Text win that it completely overshadowed a 95-88 decision pounded out by Coca-Cola over Sta. Lucia in the second game. The Tigers zoomed to the solo lead heading into the All-Star break starting today after they closed out with a 7-0 run inside the final minute that broke the game’s last tie at 88. Nic Belasco, silent for most of the night, beat the shot clock with his own three-pointer with 14.1 seconds remaining that put the game to bed for the Tigers, who made it 93-88 as they improved to 5-1.
The loss was the second straight for the reigning Philippine Cup champion Realtors, who are now at 3-2 even after they out-rebounded the Tigers, 51-48 and had more fastbreak points, 16-11. Jason Dixon led the Tigers with 27 points and 13 rebounds, while second import George Gervin Jr. finished with 18 points, two assists and two steals. Wesley Wilson led the Realtors with 22 points and 10 board, while Nelbert Omolon was the top local scorer for Sta. Lucia with 18.
Meanwhile, Alaska import Randy Holcomb was fined P20,000 and slapped a one-game fines by the Office of the Commissioner yesterday for his rough foul on Red Bull’s Rich Alvarez in their game in Laoag last Saturday.
The original Flagrant Foul 1 was upgraded for F2 after a thorough review of the forearm to the nose which bloodied Alvarez and took the Red Bull stalwart out of the contest in the dying seconds of regulation.
