TALK ‘N TEXT WHIPS WELCOAT

5 Phone Pals score at least 18 each, negating monster game anew from Devance
The Philippine Basketball Association website
Friday, 14 September 2007

Talk ‘N Text remained in the running for the finale of the 2007 PBA pre-season tourney as the Phone Pals negated freshman Joe Devance’s 38-point performance in scoring a 123-109 victory over the Welcoat Dragons at the Arellano Gym Friday.

The Phone Pals, which shot a sizzling 57% from the field, played a balance game to offset Devance’s another big explosion with Jay Washington, Macmac Cardona, Asi Taulava, Don Allado and Jimmy Alapag each scoring at least 18 markers.

Bouncing back from a close defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Kings Thursday, Talk ‘N Text stayed right behind the pacesetting Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in Group B.

The Phone Pals need to beat the Giants to get a crack at the one-game final in this brief tourney won by the Alaska Milk Aces over the San Miguel Beermen last year.

Alaska and San Miguel are both in Group A currently paced by Sta. Lucia Realty.

Devance, a former University of Texas at El Paso mainstay picked No. 1 overall in the recent Rookie Draft, scattered 22 points in the first half allowing the Dragons to hold sway early on. He also finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.

But TNT got its act together, coming from the halftime break and unraveled big runs to foil the Dragons’ upset bid.

The Phone Pals, who outscored Welcoat 43-19 from the 15-foot line, pulled even at 71-all on two free throws by Alapag and went on to seize a 92-85 lead at the close of the third period.

Coach Derick Pumaren and his boys won pulling away as they simply imposed their superiority on the young Welcoat team in the payoff period.

But Devance definitely earned the respect of the Phone Pals as he churned out a second straight 30-plus performance in the pre-season event. He had 35 points against Marquin Chandler and his KT&G teammates. (NC)

The scores:
Talk ‘N Text 123 – Washington 20, Cardona 20, Taulava 18, Allado 18, Alapag 18, Ritualo 12, Belano 8, Billones 4, Carey 3, Noble 2.
Welcoat 109 – Devance 38, Dulay 15, Reyes 12, Wainwright 9, Gelig 8, Arana 8, Lopez 7, Mente 6, Sta. Maria 5, Ibanes 1, Ballesteros 0, Tangkay 0.
Quarterscores: 33-33, 54-65, 92-85, 123-109