Big game from Sneed lifts Powerade to win over Talk ‘N Text

PBA IMAGES/Nuki Sabio

The Powerade Tigers, behind a monstrous performance from import Omar Sneed and a big spark from recent acquisition Rey Guevarra, defeated the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, 110-105, Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Sneed posted 32 points, 23 rebounds, three assists and two steals while Guevarra scored eight of his 11 points in the crucial fourth quarter as Powerade survived a late rally to improve their record to 2-2.

The Tigers turned a seven-point halftime deficit into a double-digit advantage entering the final period after outscoring a fatigued-looking Tropang Texters unit, 31-17, in the third.

But Kelly Williams and Jimmy Alapag scored 10 of Talk ‘N Text’s first 12 points in the fourth as the Texters came out with more energy and closed the margin to just five, 85-80, with 9:05 remaining.

But Guevarra countered with another highlight-reel dunk reminiscent of the one he threw down against Alaska in their previous game.

The Texters would make one more charge when import Paul Harris, who finished with 22 points in the game, scored six straight points to cut the deficit down to 104-100 with 1:13 to play. But Talk ‘N Text missed crucial free throws in the end game as Powerade hung on for the win.

Sneed was simply stellar in his second game after debuting with a near triple-double against Alaska last Friday. He was all over the floor – scoring, rebounding and defending – as he kept the Tigers unbeaten since replacing Rashad McCants.

Sneed admitted after the game that he came out motivated because of talk that Texters import Harris was a better player than him.

He certainly made a strong case for himself in this one.

In one key play in the fourth, Sneed showed off his impressive defensive instincts when he stripped a streaking Alapag in the backcourt and finished for an uncontested layup where he tucked one hand behind his head, like former NBA star Karl Malone used to do.

Gary David kept his streak of games with 20 or more points going – up to 18 games now – as he scored 28 points. He struggled in the first half, shooting just 3-for-12, but broke out in the third with three straight three-pointers, the last of which giving the Tigers its first lead in the second half.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini added 10 points for Powerade while JVee Casio scored eight.

Harris’ 22 paced Talk ‘N Text, who dropped to a dangerous 1-3 win-loss mark in the short conference, while Alapag scored 17 to lead the locals. Ali Peek scored 16 and Ranidel De Ocampo added 15 for the Texters.

The scores:

Powerade (110) – Sneed 32, David 28, Guevarra 11, Al-Hussaini 10, Casio 8, Lingganay 7, Salvador 6, Anthony 4, Antonio 2, Vanladingham 2, Tugade 0.

Talk ‘N Text (105) – Harris 22, Alapag 17, Peek 16, De Ocampo 15, Williams 13, Fonacier 11, Gamalinda 5, Aban 2, Aguilar 2, Dillinger 2, Alvarez 0, Raymundo 0.

Quarterscores: 20-25, 44-51, 78-68, 110-105.

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