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Monday, March 10, 2003
Asi back, helps Pals beat SMB
By Jade A. Violeta
WITH Paul Asi Taulava back in action after serving a two-game suspension for marijuana use, the Talk N’ Text Phone Pals cranked up their engine as they barged into the win column following a hard-earned 83-80 victory over the San Miguel Beermen at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday.
In the second game, the Alaska Aces took the solo leadership after nailing their fourth-straight victory in the form of an 85-80 victory over the reeling Shell Turbo Chargers.
Playing in his first game after serving out his two-game suspension alongside San Miguel Beer’s Dorian Peña, the Fil-Tongan Taulava dished out a monster performance as he helped the Phone Pals record their first win after three games with a double-double performance.
Taulava etched a total of 15 markers on top of 20 rebounds to power the Phone Pals, who overcame a sluggish first half, to victory.
The other smoking guns for Talk N’ Text coach Paul Woolpert in their first taste of the win were Bong Ravena, who banged in 21 points peppered with four treys and Mark Telan, who made 10 markers.
Rookies Jimmy Alapag, who chipped in 20 baskets, seven rebounds and seven assists and Harvey Carey, who logged in 14 points, also played pivotal roles in the Phone Pals’ first win as they provided the spark at the time when their team seemed to be going down.
Playing with a badly depleted line-up, the Beermen made a loud start as they took control of the opening period courtesy of Boybits Victoria’s hot three-point shooting to erect a 28-16 lead.
A basket from rookie Marlon Legaspi stretched the Beermen’s edge to 37-19 early in the second period before Ravena, Telan, Alapag and Carey combined for a 14-3 blitz to bring down San Miguel’s lead to 43-37 at the half.
The second half turned out to be the Phone Pals’ time to shine as they started to take control of the game with Alapag, Taulava and Ravena leading the charge to take a 76-75 edge in the homestretch.
But the Beermen managed to get back into the lead after scoring four-straight points after Dondon Hontiveros’ free throws, 79-76, with barely two minutes left in the game.
Taulava locked the count at 79-all with a booming trey in the last 32 seconds and a series of turnovers on the part of San Miguel did the latter in.
The Beermen, who are now tied with, Sta. Lucia, Purefoods and the Phone Pals with 1-2 win-loss cards each, were headed by Olsen Racela, who banged in 20 points.
Talk N’ Text (83) – Ravena 21, Alapag 20, Taulava 15, Carey 14, Telan 10, Fran 5. San Miguel (80) – Racela 20, Hontiveros 13, Belasco 13, Peña 12, Victoria 11, Mente 4, Gahol 2, Gamboa 2, Legaspi 2.
(March 10, 2003 issue)
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