Back from vacation: Alapag, De Ocampo show up for Talk ‘N Text

AKTV/Paolo Papa

After being called out for being on “a vacation” by Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes following a tough Game Three loss, Ranidel De Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag bounced back with good, but not yet ideal, performances as the Tropang Texters tied the Commissioner’s Cup finals count at 2-apiece.

“At least Ranidel finally got some points. 10 points, but still shot poorly. But at least if we’re getting points out of him and Jimmy, it eases some of the pressure on the shoulders of [Jayson Castro] and our import (Donnell Harvey),” said Reyes shortly after the Tropang Texters’ 100-85 victory over B-MEG.

De Ocampo scored nine of his 10 points in a first half wherein Castro and Harvey were held to just two points apiece, but the Tropang Texters still managed to lead B-MEG by 12 behind big contributions from their locals.

In a key sequence in the second quarter, De Ocampo scored seven straight Talk ‘N Text points. He started things by knocking down a midrange jumper from the elbow, that was answered by a three-pointer by Joe DeVance on the other end. De Ocampo then banked in another jumper from the opposite elbow, before following it up with a tough three-point play to push the Talk ‘N Text lead up to 12, 43-31.

De Ocampo finished 3-for-12 from the field, and had five fouls. Alapag scored 12 points but was limited to just 17 minutes. Both shot identical 0-for-2 marks from three-point range.

Alapag shot better from inside the three-point line, hitting four out of his six shots in the game, including a couple of layups that he’s had trouble making in the series. The two also combined to make 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

“All our conversation at practice centered around coming out and playing good Talk ‘N Text basketball for a full 48 minutes,” Reyes said.

That’s exactly what he got from his team tonight.

Dillinger, scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the first half, Ryan Reyes, who had all nine of his points in the first to quarters, and De Ocampo led the way for Talk ‘N Text, before Castro, Harvey and Larry Fonacier took over in the second half. Fonacier scored 15 of his 18 points, including three three-pointers, after halftime, while Castro had 13 points and Harvey, 12. Dillinger and Fonacier led four other Tropang Texters in double-figures in scoring.

They also held James Yap to just four points in the first half and 3-for-14 shooting for the game. They led by as much as 19 points and kept B-MEG no closer than nine points in the second half.

“I’m just going to keep emphasizing that we need to do the things that we need to do,” said Reyes. “The important thing is we get down and play good basketball for 48 minutes.”

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