Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — Import Richard Howell knocked in two huge baskets in the endgame to lift the Talk N Text Tropang Texters to a close 95-91 victory over the Air21 Express Saturday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome. Their second straight win bolted the Texters to an early solo lead in the import-laced tournament. TNT earlier defeated the defending champion Alaska Aces, 85-72. Despite being saddled with foul trouble in the first half, the energetic Howell posted huge numbers of 29 points and 12 rebounds. His rebound and two clutch baskets bailed TNT out of trouble in the final minute of the match. First, the 6'8” 2013 NBA Draftee grabbed the rebound of his own miss to score on a putback to give his team a four-point lead, 91-87, with 55 seconds left. After his Air21 counterpart Herve Lamizana countered with two free throws, Howell scored again on a layup off an assist by Kelly Williams to restore TNT's four-point lead, 93-89, with 22 ticks left. Two more free throws sealed the win for the Texters. Jason Castro was the second top scorer for TNT with 22 points. Jimmy Alapag chipped in 14 points, 12 of them in a tightly-fought fourth quarter. Ranidel de Ocampo added 12 points while Harvey Carey finished with eight points and nine rebounds. The Air21 loss spoiled a superlative performance from the league's oldest player, 41-year-old Asi Taulava, who finished with 23 points — 12 of them in the final period — 15 rebounds, seven assists, and seven blocks. Lamizana also scored a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds on top of seven assists and seven blocks. However, the Ivorian journeyman struggled with his shots, converting just 4-of-16 field goal attempts, as the Express suffered its first defeat after debuting in the conference with a win. Alaska 93, Air21 77: With Robert Dozier playing his heart out, the Alaska Aces made mincemeat of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 93-77, in the first match of the Saturday double-header for their first win in the tournament after suffering an opening-day loss to the Texters. Used sparingly by coach Luigi Trillo in the first three quarters, the 6'9” returning Alaska import came out roaring in the final period, firing 15 of the Aces' first 17 points while at the same anchoring his team's air-tight defense. Dozier, last year's Best Import awardee, finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and one block, earning for himself the Best Player of the Game award. RJ Jazul and Gabby Espinas added 18 points apiece for Alaska. Alaska's fourth-quarter defense was so tight that GlobalPort scored just a single free throw in the first nine minutes of the period. The Batang Pier earlier appeared to be in control of the match, building a 65-59 lead in the third quarter behind Jay Washington's long-range bombs. But they had no answer to the Aces' relentless attacks and formidable defense in the homestretch as they suffered their second straight defeat in the conference. Import Evan Brock led the Batang Pier with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Washington added 14 and seven rebounds. Newly-acquired Alex Cabagnot finished with 11 points, nine assists and three rebounds. Games Sunday: Rain or Shine vs. Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra vs. San Miguel.
