Talk 'N Text Spoiled Gallent's Debut Game Defeated B-meg, 87-76

It was a slow start for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, but surprisingly,  they ended the game with a big bang, defeating the injury-riddled defending champion B-Meg Derby Ace, 87-76, in Wednesday night’s main game of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters were trailing by 10, 15-5 early in the opening half of the first period, but Jared Dillinger’s second-quarter heroics paved thier way to take control of the highly-physical ballgame.

The Tropang Texters were up 44-36 at the half with Dillinger scoring 12 of his team-high 18 points.

“We kind of started slow. But we settled down beginning the second quarter and took control of the game," said Dillinger.

Harvey Carey added 17 points and 17 rebounds for Talk 'N Text, which also got 13 from Jayson Castro, 12 from Ryan Reyes and 11 from Larry Fonacier.

Fonacier’s five-point cluster, which he highlighted with a booming trey, put the Tropang Texters safely in front, 80-66, with 5:44 to go.

Jonas Villanueva was the lone bright spot for the Llamados during that stretch, accounting for nine of his game-high 20 markers. Reigning two-time MVP James Yap, still recovering from an operation, contributed 13 points and hit three straight three-pointers during one stretch in the third period, just before a heated rebound battle between his teammate Rico Maierhofer and Ali Peek happened that resulted in a technical foul called on the stocky big man of the Tropang Texters. - RCJ, GMANews.TV

Scores:

Talk N' Text 87 - Dillinger 18, Carey 17, Castro 13, Reyes 12, Fonacier 11, Aban 6, Peek 4, Williams 3, Alapag 3.

B-Meg Derby Ace 76 - Villanueva 20, Simon 18, Yap J. 13, Salvador 9, Maierhofer 6, Yap R. 4, Allado 4, Canaleta 2, Timberlake 0.

Quarter scores:

 17-23, 44-36, 70-59, 87-76