Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — The Talk N Text Tropang Texters survived a scare from the Alaska Aces with a 104-103 victory Monday night in the PBA Governors' Cup. With the Texters up, 104-100, with eight seconds remaining, Jvee Casio drilled a three-pointer to cut TNT's lead to one. Alaska's pesky defense then forced Ranidel de Ocampo to commit a turnover with four ticks left, giving the Aces a golden opportunity to steal the game. After a timeout, import Romeo Travis drove to the basket but missed as time expired and the Texters heaved a huge sigh of relief. It was TNT's second win in three games, tying the Texters with the Kia Carnival at fourth to fifth place in the standings. Alaska suffered its first loss after three straight wins as the Aces slid into a tie for second to third place with the GlobalPort Batang Pier. Alaska's loss allowed the Barako Bull Energy to get hold of solo first place with a 3-0 win-loss card. Import Steffphon Pettigrew led the Texters with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Matt Ganuelas-Rosser provided strong local support with 17 points, four boards and two blocks. Playing his first game in the conference, De Ocampo posted 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Larry Fonacier added 12 markers. The Texters shot a sizzling 50.7 percent from the field, hitting 37 of 73 shots. In contrast, the Aces recorded a less impressive 40.8 percent shooting from the field, nailing 40 of 98 shots. Romeo led Alaska with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Cyrus Baguio and Chris Banchero added 15 and 11 points, respectively. Kia 85, NLEX 82 Unheralded Hyram Bagatsing nailed a clutch three-pointer with one second left to lift the Kia Carnival to a stunning 85-82 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors. Pulled from the bench late in the game, Bagatsing became the unlikely hero for the Carnival as he swished in the game winner after getting a pass from LA Revilla, serving as the exclamation point to Kia's comeback from a 16-point deficit. Bagatsing finished with eight points and four assists. His heroics enabled Kia to post its second win in three games, vaulting to solo fourth place in the standings. Revilla and Asian import Jet Chang from Taiwan led Kia with 15 points apiece. New recruits Jason Deuchman and Alex Nuyles added 10 points apiece. Kia's other import, seven-footer Hamady N'Diaye from Senegal, was limited by the NLEX defense to just six points and eight rebounds. N'Diaye went into the game averaging 20 points and 15.5 rebounds. The Road Warriors were up by 16 points, 48-32, late in the second quarter and appeared on their way to chalking up win No. 2. But they suddenly turned cold in the second half, allowing the boys of Kia playing coach Manny Pacquiao to overhaul the deficit and seize control of the game. NLEX import Kwame Alexander led all scorers with 22 points while Asi Taulava had 17 and Mark Borboran 10. The loss sent the Road Warriors into a tie for ninth to 11th place with idle Ginebra and Blackwater. Game Thursday (In Dubai): GlobalPort Batang Pier vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
