FIBA ASIA VETS RETURN, STAR IN TALK N TEXT’S AUSPICIOUS START

Aces sign Miller at 11th hour, then records career-high
Philippine Basketball Association website
Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Quicker to adjust to the new rules, Talk N Text muscled its way to a triumphant debut in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup versus recent Fiesta Cup Finals tormentor Alaska Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Led by three returning players exposed to FIBA officiating, the Phone Pals drubbed the Aces, 113-106, for an auspicious start in the tourney where they’re among teams expected to figure prominently in the championship race.

Tokushima FIBA Asia championship veterans Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo made their presence felt instantly, creating much problems for the Aces, who beat the Pals in their absence in the recent Fiesta Cup finale.

Taulava scored nine of his 19 points in the second quarter, spearheading a run that broke a close game open.

The Pals opened a 59-45 lead at the turn and led by as many as 20, 87-67, before facing a minor Alaska uprising in the final period.

"It’s either you bump or you get bumped. No room for soft players and the boys showed they’re up to the challenge," said Talk N Text coach Derrick Pumaren.

"It’s a matter of adjusting and the boys are ready to do that. They played well on defense and did the needed hustling," Pumaren added.

Alaska coach Tim Cone did much complaining on the refs’ calls and was banished from the game towards the end.

Also drawing solid games from Jay Washington, Harvey Carey and Yancy de Ocampo, the Pals established control in the second quarter and enjoyed a safe lead all the way to the finish.

Washington, Taulava, Carey, De Ocampo and Alapag each scored at least 11 for the Pals, who negated Willie Miller’s career-best 35-point explosion.

Miller, the 2002 and 2006-07 MVP winner, signed his new contract with the Aces a few hours before the game.

After a long-drawn negotiation, Miller and the Alaska management on Tuesday reached an agreement for a contract-extension worth P12.6 million in three years.

"It took us a long while to come to terms but it had never been a problem. Length of the contract lang ang hindi natapos agad," said Alaska governor and team manager Joaqui Trillo.

"Willie’s a pro. He’s religiously attending practice and team functions even when he was unsigned," Trillo added.

Miller had a solid all-round game against the Pals as he also collected seven assists, six rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes of action. (NC)

The scores:

Talk N Text 113 – Washington 20, Taulava 19, Carey 15, De Ocampo 13, Alapag 11, Ritualo 9, Belano 8, Cardona 7, Allado 6, Aljamal 5.
Alaska 106 – Miller 35, Dela Cruz 13, Thoss 12, Quinahan 10, Ferriols 9, Bono 7, Hugnatan 7, Cortez 7, Cariaso 4, Laure 2, Cabatu 0, Juinio 0.
Quarterscores: 22-23, 59-45, 87-70, 113-106.