Saturday, June 30, 2007 Talk N’ Text leads series with Barakos
TALK N’ Text had to undergo a heart-stopping roller-coaster ride before it managed to subdue the hard-fighting Red Bull Barakos yesterday, 112-111, in Game 5 of their best-of-7 semifinals of the 2007 Talk N’ Text-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The victory broke a 2-all deadlock and gave the Phone Pals a 3-2 series edge, just a step short of entering the finals.
In the PBA’s history, 78 percent of the teams that won Game 5 in a best-of-7 series after a 2-all tie went on to win the series.
Slow start
The boys of Phone Pals coach Derrick Pumaren battled from a slow start and had to come back after squandering a double-digit lead in the first half. They had to endure a hair-raising see-saw battle in the homestretch before they were able to secure the battle against the wards of Barakos coach Yeng Guiao.
Mac-mac Cardona continued his blazing game in the series as he tallied another excellent performance by finishing the game with 30 markers on a 10-of-12 field goal shooting with five assists, earning him the Best Player of the Game award.
Former University of the Visayas Green Lancer Felix Belano, Jr. also had an excellent game as the Davao-native dribbler inked 12 markers, six of it coming in the final five minutes, that helped the Phone Pals get back into the game.
Splendid job
Import JJ Sullinger also handed in a splendid offensive job for Talk N’ Text as he bucked a forgettable opening half performance to finish with 19 baskets and nine boards, while Jay Washington added an identical production of 19 points and nine rebounds to the Phone Pals’ cause.
The Barakos, who lost ace gunner and ex-SIT Skyblazer Junthy Valenzuela to a severe ankle injury in the second canto, showed their might in the opening period as they ended it ahead by five, 30-25.
The second quarter, though, belonged to the Phone Pals, who unleashed a series of rallies that had them leading the Barakos in the entire period, including a 56-44 spread in the last three minutes of the period before Red Bull cut it to 53-59 at the bend. (JSV)
