PBA: Bench boosts Talk 'N Text past NLEX

Four locals came off the bench to score in double figures as the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters ended the game as strong as they started to defeat the NLEX Road Warriors, 108-89, on Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Steffphon Pettigrew led TNT with 26 points, but it was the Texters' bench that provided the big difference. Jayson Castro had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists with just one turnover in 28 minutes of play, while Ranidel De Ocampo had an all-around outing with 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Kelly Williams chipped in 11 markers, while Matt Ganuelas-Rosser had 10. Other import Sam Daghles also tallied 10 points and eight boards as a starter.

After the game, TNT head coach Jong Uichico discussed how having a complete team is both a luxury and a challenge for his squad:

"Roster is complete. Harder but easier. Harder dividing the minutes. Hopefully we get the right rotations. It's important to get as many wins as we can at this early in the tournament."

Kwame Alexander had a solid night for NLEX with 22 points and 16 boards in 42 minutes of play. Michael Madanly also had 22 points with five assists but with four turnovers. Veteran big man Asi Taulava had a double-double with 25 points and 13 boards in 33 minutes of play. But aside from the three and Jonas Villanueva's 10 markers, the rest of the Road Warriors only accounted for 10 points.

TNT set the pace early, going up 27-18 after a Jayson Castro trey to end the first. The Road Warriors picked up their scoring in the second, but a five-point swing from Castro and Pettigrew put the Texters ahead by 13 at the half, 57-44. NLEX barely edged Talk 'N Text in the third, as four straight from Enrico Villanueva and Michael Madanly trimmed the lead to four, but Ranidel De Ocampo and Kelly Williams hit back to back triples to re-establish a double-digit lead, 80-70, heading into the final turn.

NLEX was able to slice the lead to only seven at the six minute mark of the final period, before TNT dealt the killer blows. The Tropang Texters ended the game with a 17-5 swing to cruise to victory. - GMA News


The scores:


Talk N Text 108 -- Pettigrew 26, Castro 19, De Ocampo 12, Williams 11, Daghles 10, Rosser 10, Fonacier 8, Carey 6, Seigle 6, Washington 0Miller 0, Espiritu 0, Reyes 0.

NLEX 89 -- Taulava 25, Alexander 22, Madanly 22, Villanueva 10, E. Villanueva 4, Borboran 3, Wolson 3, Cardona 0, Canaleta 0, Lingganay 0, Ramos 0, Apinan 0.

Quarters: 27-18; 57-44; 80-70; 108-89.