CARDONA VIRTUALLY UNSTOPPABLE ANEW AS TNT TAKES 2-1 LEAD
28 points for Captain Hook and a career-high 10 rebounds
Mark Cardona led Talk N Texts third quarter assault with 11 points as the Phone Pals went on to dominate the Red Bull Barakos in Game 3, 106-98, Sunday night for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series in the Talk N Text-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Game 3 was surprisingly easy for the Phone Pals, who are hoping to bury the ghost of losing 2-1 leads, the most recent in last conference's Philippine Cup semifinal series against the Barangay Ginebra Kings. TNT also held a 2-1 lead at the time but lost the next three games and the series.
The Phone Pals have actually lost their last three best-of-7 series, 2 of them in the Finals, after taking a 2-1 lead.
Talk N Text separated from Red Bull after a close first half as the Barakos experienced an offensive meltdown in the third quarter that saw them shooting a horrendous 21 percent (4-of-19) from the field, including 1-9 from the three-point range.
That turned out to be the break the Phone Pals had been waiting for, outscoring the Barakos, 34-14, with Cardona leading the way in that telling charge that propelled them to leads of as much as 17 points in that period.
We really wanted to take the lead and the players made things happen in the second half. They shot well and made key stops that I though frustrated Red Bull, said TNT coach Derick Pumaren.
But theres nothing to celebrate. Were also in this position last conference only to be beaten three straight games by Ginebra. I hope that wont happen again, Pumaren added.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is set Wednesday also at the Big Dome while Game 5 will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome on Friday.
J.J. Sullinger led all scorers with 31 points and had 12 rebounds while Cardona tallied 28 points and cornered career-high 10 boards for the Phone Pals, who outrebounded the Barakos, 55-45.
It was also the first double-double performance for Cardona in the league.
The Phone Pals performed so well in Game 3, resulting in Pumaren getting to rotate his players with ease and without any dip in intensity. Seven of nine players Pumaren fielded saw action for 20 plus minutes or more and each of them contributes at least six points and two rebounds apiece.
The Barakos were in the thick of things only in the early going but lost momentum after their key players Junthy Valenzuela, James Penny and Cyrus Baguio went into foul trouble.
Valenzuela, who showed the way for Red Bull with 22 points, picked up four fouls after just two quarters while Penny who had 15 points and 11 rebounds -- had three at halftime. Baguio, who added 10 points, picked up his third foul early in the third.
With the three spending more time on the bench, Red Bulls offense considerably deteriorated as nobody managed to pick up the slack.
But Pumaren is wary of the Barakos capability to bounce back in the series.
We cant be too complacent. Red Bull has the ability to turn things around when their backs are on the wall. So we have to keep our focus, Pumaren said.
The scores:
Talk N Text 106 Sullinger 31, Cardona 28, Washington 15, Carey 10, Belano 8, Billones 6, Allado 6, de Ocampo Y 2, Fran 0.
Red Bull 98 Valenzuela 22, Najorda 16, Penny 15, Baguio 10, Hrabak 10, Fonacier 7, Ybanez 5, Bugia 4, Cruz 3, Alvarez 2, Robinson 2, Camaso 2, Sharma 0.
Quarterscores: 24-31, 52-54, 86-68, 106-98.
