PBA: Sure-shot Simon leads B-MEG to game one win over TNT

(Updated 11:25pm) The B-MEG Llamados captured game one of the PBA Commissioners Cup Finals by out-running the normally up-tempo Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters and banking on the scintillating shooting of Peter June Simon, eking out an 88-82 victory Monday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Llamados broke the game wide open early with a 17-3 run that turned an 8-11 deficit into a 25-14 first quarter advantage, with six different B-MEG players chipping in that stretch, capped by a Joe Devance score off an offensive board before the buzzer. "I think we showed our depth today," Llamados head coach Tim Cone said after the game. "B-MEG is a really deep team. I'm just learning to how to use that depth." Early offense by Raffy Reavis and JC Intal doubled TNT's output at the onset of the second period, 28-14, but the Texters slowly began to find their rhythm behind their big man Donnell Harvey, who had 11 of his 15 first-half points in the second quarter. Back-to-back conversions by the Talk 'N Text import had them within seven, 47-40, but Devance again gave B-MEG the last word, splitting charities to make it an eight-point lead headed into the break. Out of the intermission, and after first blood was drawn by James Yap, the defending champions reeled off a 12-4 run to creep within two points, only for the Llamados' import Denzel Bowles to rock the rim with a thunderous slam, 56-52. TNT countered with a four-point play by All-Filipino Cup Finals MVP Larry Fonacier, knotting the game at 56-all. The Texters kept pouring it on, with Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams connecting from distance as well, snatching a five-point advantage with a quarter left, 67-62. But that turned out to be TNT's brightest spot in the game as they seemed drained to start the final period. B-MEG quickly rattled off five points to tie the game, and after a Harvey split at the line, the Llamados scored another seven to make it 74-68. At that point, Coach Cone began to slow down the game, countering the Talk 'N Text scores methodically. But still Talk 'N Text came on. A clutch triple by Jimmy Alapag made it 80-75, and the man known as "Mighty Mouse" canned another trey a few plays later to make it a four-point deficit, 39 seconds left. The Texters then got a golden opportunity after a fouled Bowles missed two charities with 28.5 seconds left, 86-82, but off a timeout they went for the quick three, and Ranidel De Ocampo's shot did not connect. After Yap halved his free throws to make it 87-82 with 20.2 remaining, Marc Pingris came up with a crucial steal during the TNT possession, clinching the victory for B-MEG. Peter June Simon dropped 18 points on the Texters on near-flawless 9-of-11 shooting. Denzel Bowles added a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds, while the frontline of Marc Pingris and Joe Devance had 11 markers each, plus a combined nine boards. Rafi Reavis was a demon on the glass, finishing with a team-high 12 rebounds. Those caroms, togetther with that of Pingris and Devance, helped B-MEG get up and down the court, traditionally the strength of their opponents. The Llamados out-scored the Texters 14-11 in fast break points, an achievement given that they norm just nine on the run. Talk and Text drew a 25-13 performance from Donnell Harvey, but the support was not there to back him up. The starting backcourt of Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes flourished with a total of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 dimes, but there was precious little beyond them. One big problem of the Texters was there inability to convert at the free throw line. Entering the game, they shot 70.65 percent from the stripe, a top-four clip in the league. Past opening tip though, TNT missed 20 out of their 36 charities, leading head coach Chot Reyes to say in the post-game presser, "We were given free throws but we refused to accept them. "If we made 50 percent of what we missed, we would have won." Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at the Big Dome. Cone and his Llamados will be shooting for back-to-back wins, but even he admits it will be a tough feat.  "To win back-to-back takes a special effort," Cone said. Only Wednesday will tell if the Llamados have what their coach speaks of.  - KBK, GMA News The scores: BMEG 88 - Bowles 25, Simon 18, Devance 11, Pingris 11, Yap 9, Barroca 4, Intal 3, Reavis 3, Urbiztondo 2, De Ocampo 2, Villanueva 0 TNT 82 - Harvey 25, Alapag 12, Reyes 10, Fonacier 8, Williams 6, Dillinger 5, Castro 5, De Ocampo 5, Carey 4, Peek 2, Gamalinda 0, Aguilar 0 Quarter scoring: 25-14, 48-40, 62-67, 88-82