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| Photo courtesy of PBA |
TALK AND TEXT DOMINATES MERALCO
ANTIPOLO – Two years after playing one game with Burger King as the top draft pick, Japeth Aguilar
returned in the pro league with aplomb, making a huge impact in Talk n Text’s rousing debut in the
37th PBA season at the Ynares Sports Center here Friday night.
Aguilar literally and figuratively towered above anybody else in his PBA comeback, pouring in 27
points to lead the Tropang Texters to a 98-80 rout of the Meralco Bolts.
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes was hardly surprised of Aguilar's overpowering performance, saying he
knows that the 6-foot-9 behemoth can play that well.
“No other Filipino player has that height and his talent,” said Reyes.
On whether he’s only suited in the PBA but not in FIBA Asia, Reyes stressed his belief that
Aguilar can play anywhere. Reyes also said it’s the job of the coach to harness the player’s
talent.
The Talk n Text mentor, however, does believe that Aguilar fits their style of play.
“We love to run up and down, and Japeth loves to run up and down. If he can pick his spots and
understand how the opponents play, he’ll really perform well,” said Reyes of their prized
acquisition.
Used sparingly by coach Rajko Toroman at Smart Gilas, Aguilar appeared to be a man on mission in his
first game with the Texters.
The Texters put the game away from the Bolts early with Aguilar outscoring the entire Meralco team,
14-6, in the second quarter.
Aguilar intercepted a pass by Gabby Espinas and slammed it home off Jason Ballesteros to highlight
Talk n Text’s second-quarter onslaught that gave the Texters a 47-28 bulge at the turn.
The former Western Kentucky U player piled up 19 points in the first half and added eight more in
the second half for the biggest output by anybody in the season thus far.
It would be remembered that he made only 10 in his PBA debut with Burger King in 2009.
Jayson Castro, Jared Dillinger and Harvey Carey added at least 11 each as the Texters covered well
the absence of top stalwarts Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo.
The Bolts got off-balanced on the early ouster of Macmac Cardona on a sprained ankle, and the team
failed to recover.
Hard-nosed guard Sol Mercado was in civvies, still recuperating from his injury.
The two teams actually fought on even terms in the first quarter but the Bolts couldn’t keep up as
the Texters stepped up in the second period.
The Bolts scored only a single field-goal shot in their dry spell in the second quarter.
There was no stopping the Texters after taking that 19-point halftime cushion. (SB)
The scores:
Talk n Text 98 - Aguilar 27, Castro 14, Dillinger 11, Carey 11, Aban 8, Raymundo 6, Reyes 6,
Fonacier 6, Peek 4, Waters 2, Membrere 2, Alvarez 1, Lao 0.
Meralco 80 - Espinas 20, Lanete 13, Timberlake 10, Yee 9, Omolon 8, Taulava 8, Bulawan 5, Macapagal
4, Cardona 2, Ballesteros 1, Faundo 0, Borboran 0, Isip 0.
Quarters: 22-22, 47-28, 75-52, 98-80
PETRON GETS WIN # 2
Source : PBA Official Website
ONCE again, Alex Cabagnot stepped in and bailed Petron out of imminent danger.
The Boosters’ ace playmaker sparked a decisive run in the fourth quarter by knocking down three
consecutive three-point shots, and Petron broke away for good in beating Barako Bull, 95-83, and
clinching the early solo lead in the PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Ynares Center in
Antipolo City.
Unable to shake the Energy loose three-fourths of the way, the Boosters finally built the gap Barako
Bull would never threaten again, riding on Cabagnot’s string of long-court baskets that triggered
an 18-4 assault as Petron wriggled out of a 75-70 scary advantage to put the game practically away
with a 93-74 lead.
It was the second straight time that Cabagnot came to rescue Petron out of a menacing situation. In
the franchise’s 73-69 win over powerhouse B-Meg last Wednesday, he scored seven of the team’s
last nine points.
Cabagnot eventually wound up with a career-high-tying 22 points and four assists.
Even then, it was how Petron executed overall team effort that counted the most.
Arwind Santos scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and grabbed 14 rebounds, rookie
Chris Lutz contributed 17 points, Carlo Sharma poured in 15 markers and Danny Ildefonso continued to
fool Father Time with 11 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as Petron booked a second win in a row
its coach never really expected.
“At first I didn’t expect we would be 2-0 (win-loss) in the tournament,” said Petron coach Ato
Agustin. “It’s really team effort. We had five players scoring in double figures and we were
able to adjust in the fourth quarter which I think that was the difference.”
Barako Bull, the former Air21 franchise and a team loaded with veteran players, was led by Mick
Pennisi’s 16 points while Allein Maliksi had 15 points and seven rebounds as the team lost its
12th in a row dating back to the Commissioner's Cup.
The Energy failed to draw the numbers expected from two-time MVP Willie Miller, who was held by
Lutz’ defense to eight points. Miller only shot 2-of-8 from the field and had three turnovers in
30 minutes of play.
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The Boosters were playing their second game in three nights, but no signs of drain were obvious.
They were again at their best defensively, but impressive offensively as they took a 47-37 lead at
the halftime break.
Cabagnot took charge in scoring, and the pony-tailed point guard had 13 points and two assists in
the opening two quarters.
Petron led by as many as 45-32 in the first half on a basket by Lutz with 3:24 left in the second
period. (ZM)
The scores:
Petron Blaze (95) - Cabagnot 22, Santos 19, Lutz 17, Sharma 15, Ildefonso 11, Yeo 5, Baclao 4,
Miranda 2, Agustin 0, Guevarra 0.
Barako Bull (83) - Pennisi 16, Maliksi 15, Salvacion 11, Najorda 10, Salvador 8, Miller 8, Seigle 5,
Artadi 4, Avenido 2, Allado 2, Pena 2, Arboleda 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 47-37, 73-64, 95-83.
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