Tropang Texters won over depleted Air21

Talk N Text's resiliency was put to test again Thursday night against the Air21 Express, but just like they did in their season opener Saturday, the Tropang Texters managed to come out on top.

A huge fourth quarter saved the Tropang Texters from an embarrassing defeat and clinched their second straight win in the 2008-09 KFC PBA Philippine Cup via a 112-101 romp over a heavily depleted opponent.

Rookie Jared Dillinger, the No.2 overall draft pick, and star guard Jimmy Alapag scored 23 points apiece to spark TNT's fourth quarter salvo.

Mark Cardona poured in 22 points, Harvey Carey contributed 16 and Yancy de Ocampo had 11 for Talk n Text, which fell behind by 15 points in the second quarter.

Dillinger, who sat out the fourth quarter of their 98-97 win over Coca-Cola Saturday, stayed healthy when TNT needed him most and his free throw with 6:01 to play in the fourth put the Tropang Texters ahead to stay.

It was another tough loss for the Express, who dominated the game for three quarters but ran out of steam in the fourth quarter without four of their key players. The loss was the second in as many games for the team that finished runner-up in the Fiesta Conference.

Arwind Santos and Homer Se were serving their one game suspension, Doug Kramer got married and teammate JC Intal stood as his sponsor.

But even without them, the Express appeared good enough to handle the Tropang Texters.

They opened the game with a 12-9 run and stretched the lead to 12 points on three consecutive threes by Wynne Arboleda and Egay Billiones.

Without their two big men, the Express found themselves being mugged off the boards by the Tropang Texters, 65-55.

Gary David scored 23 points, including four straight that gave Air21 the biggest lead of the game, 38-23, five minutes into the second period.

But TNT found its groove in the second quarter and slowly clawed its way back before turning the game around by outscoring Air21, 32-12, in the fourth. (DBC)

The scores:

TNT 112 – Dillinger 23, Alapag 23, Cardona 22, Carey 16, De Ocampo 11, Castro 9, Allado 4, Reyes 2, Ritualo 2.

Air21 101 – David 23, Quinahan 15, Arboleda 15, De Ocampo 14, Billones 13, Canaleta 11, Cruz 6, Sta. Maria 0.

Quarters: 16-21; 40-52; 80-89; 112-101.