Kings, Texters gun for 2-1 in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan , Philippines  -- Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra begin their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title showdown all over again after splitting the first two games, raising the excitement among fans of both clubs heading into Game 3 tonight at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

The morning after Game Two, the two teams took the same Cebu Pacific flight coming here, but the pleasantries stop there.

“In any battle, it’s always important to have the edge. We have tied the series, and we’ll take the opportunity to go ahead in Game Three,” said Ginebra top gun Mark Caguioa.

“We knew the series is going to be tough from the beginning. We’re back to square one, and we’re ready to go,” said Talk n Text skipper Jimmy Alapag.

Import Nate Brumfield churned out a near triple-double game and rookie John Wilson dished out a career-best showing as Ginebra stopped Talk n Text’s amazing romp and evened the series at 1-1 with a pulsating 108-106 win Friday.

Ginebra handed Talk n Text its very first loss in the tourney, foiling the Texters’ attempt to be the first team in league history to have two streaks of at least 13 wins.

Ginebra forward Ronald Tubid is confident they can start their own run and pull off an upset of Talk n Text, the Philippine Cup ruler and Fiesta Conference elims topnotcher.

“Basado na namin kung paano sila talunin (We’ve figured out how to beat them),” said Tubid. “Ako muna ang mangungulit kay Harris tapos take over si Willy Wilson (I’ll start harassing Paul Harris then Willy Wilson takes over).”

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico is circumspect, pointing out they barely escaped with the win Friday.  

“We won by the skin of our teeth. We didn’t play smart in the end and we could have lost it,” Uichico said. “Still, it’s a win and it’s a good thing to build on. It showed that if we do play hard, we have a shot.”

Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, meanwhile, said defensive adjustment is in order for his team after they let the Kings score 93 points just in three quarters the last time.

Obviously, he’s also hoping Paul Harris and Jimmy Alapag would deliver.

Probably to challenge the two, Reyes mentioned their crucial errors in Game Two.

“Jimmy Alapag had three big mistakes and Paul Harris had two down the stretch. Two less mistakes and we could have won the game,” said Reyes.

 Alapag, a candidate for the Best Player of the Conference award, promised he would redeem himself in Game Three.

 “I understand I have to play better, make right decisions and knock down shots,” said Alapag.

 Cheered on by their huge throngs at the Cuneta Astrodome, the Kings made a key push entering the homestretch and pulled through with Alapag missing a make-or-break three-point attempt in the dying seconds.

The Texter simply dominated the Kings in taking Game One at 102-83.

Brumfield bounced back strong from a 10-point showing the last time out, piling up 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists while Wilson chipped in a career-best 16 points that went with three rebounds and two assists Friday.

 Both had a hand in building the Kings’ decisive 108-101 cushion before going scoreless in the final minute.

 As the Kings tapered off, the Texters made one final push but came up short in the end. TnT’s 12-game streak came to an end with a three-point shot by Alapag falling way short.

 Harris banged away 24 points but only one in the final period.

Alapag, on the other hand, scored 13 of his 17 in the fourth quarter but missed the shot that mattered the most.

Wilson, a PBA rookie who opted to waive his final year of eligibility in the NCAA, put in a career-best 16 points, including a three-point play in a nine-to-nothing run that pushed Ginebra upfront at 108-101.