Friday, January 19, 2007 Phone Pals battle Giants; TNT plays Barakos in PBA q’finals
IT’S back to square one for the four protagonists in the 2006-07 Talk ’N Text PBA Philippine Cup best-of-five quarterfinal showdown when action resumes today at the Yñares Center in Antipolo City.
This after series opening losers Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals and Red Bull Barakos toppled their respective foes in Game 2 last Wednesday to even the count in the two series to 1-1 each.
The Phone Pals bounced back from their Game 1 debacle against the Purefoods Chunkee Giants after they buried the latter, 110-92, in Game 2.
The Barakos, for their part, evened things against the Realtors as they escaped past the latter in overtime, 100-98.
Different
TNT coach Derick Pumaren said after their Game 2 win that they played to their potential as a team resulting to their victory.
“We were a completely different team this game (Game 2). In Game One, we came out flat. But tonight (Wednesday) we showed a lot of grit and hustle and the urgency to tie the series,” Pumaren said.
And indeed grit and hustle was the name of the game for the Phone Pals the last time out as two of their post up men—Yancy de Ocampo and Jay Washington—doled out impressive efforts in leading Talk ’N Text past the Giants.
Career-highs
Washington and De Ocampo registered career-highs in scoring with 26 points apiece as they practically carried the fight for the Phone Pals, who completely dominated the Giants in a game that turned ugly in the closing seconds.
With this, it can be expected today that Washington and De Ocampo will try to duplicate their Game 2 efforts to try and let their team take the lead in the series.
Aside from the Phone Pals’ twin towers, also expected to step are Renren Ritualo, Felix Belano, Mark Cardona and Asi Taulava.
Purefoods, on the other hand, will rely on Peter June Simon, James Yap, Roger Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Jun Limpot and Johndan Salvador. (JSV)
