Ryan Reyes knocked in a three-pointer from the deep left corner with 14.3 seconds left to buoy the defending champions Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters to a close, 66-65 win over the upset-conscious Alaska Aces last night at the start of their best-of-seven semifinal series of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Reyes’ three-pointer saved the Texters from what could have been a big upset as the Aces gave the defending champions all they can handle before going down.
Talk ‘N Text is the top offensive team in the league with an average of at least 94 points a game but Alaska’s lockdown defense forced the Texters to shoot just 29.7 percent from the field.
But in the end, Talk N Text needed just one play to grab a 1-0 series lead.
After taking an early 6-1 lead, the Aces trailed for most part of the game with Talk ‘N Text building leads of as many as eight points in the second and third periods.
Talk ‘N Text led, 47-39, late in the third but Alaska ended the period with a searing 11-0 blast to steal the upper-hand, 50-47, going into the fourth.
Alaska was in command in the fourth and the only time that Talk ‘N Text was able to regain lead was when Reyes delivered the pivotal trifecta.
In the game winning play, Jayson Castro attracted two defenders before flipping a pass to Reyes.
With two seconds left in their shot clock, Reyes unleashed a looping three-pointer that hit nothing but the bottom of the net.
Talk ‘N Text then forced Tony dela Cruz to a hurried jumper that went awry. Castro collared the defensive rebound and dribbled the time away.
Castro who bagged the Best Player of the Game accolade has 17 points, 11 rebounds and two assists.
Sonny Thoss paced Alaska with 14 points and 14 rebounds while rookie Calvin Abueva finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds.
Talk ‘N Text too played tough defense especially on Abueva who didn’t score until the 3:57 of the fourth. JVee Casio also struggled offensively as he made his first points only in the 11:32 mark of the fourth. Casio went on to finish with six points.