Talk 'N Text beat Barako to move to 4-0

MANILA, Philippines – The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters held off repeated rallies by the Barako Bull Energy to keep their record intact with a 101-96 win in the PBA Commissioners Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jayson Castro had 25 points for TNT while import Richard Howell added 23 points, and three other Texters scored in double-digits.

Barako had a slim 68-67 lead after the third quarter, but Talk ‘N Text took the lead for good early in the final period off three free throws from Nino Canaleta.

The Energy made repeated rallies behind their import, Josh Dollard, but the Texters answered with key baskets from Larry Fonacier and Castro, while also making their charities to keep Barako at bay.

Dollard finished with 33 points for Barako, but it was not enough as the Energy slumped to their third defeat in four outings.

Ronjay Buenafe added 18 points, Denok Miranda had 14, and JC Intal scored 13 for Barako Bull.

The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 101 - Castro 25, Howell 23, Canaleta 18, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 11, Alapag 6, Williams 2, Aban 0, Reyes 0, Baclao 0, Carey 0.

BARAKO 96 - Dollard 33, Buenafe 18, Miranda 14, Intal 13, Miller 11, Pennisi 3, Jensen 2, Pena 2, Deutchman 0, Fortuna 0, Marcelo 0.

Quarterscores: 24-30, 45-48, 67-68, 101-96

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

P500,000 reward up for gunman who shot Ali Peek

Talk N' Text (TNT) basketball team owner Manuel Pangilinan offered a P500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects behind the shooting of cager Albert Henry "Ali" Peek in Mandaluyong City on Monday evening.

TNT coach Vincent "Chot" Reyes said on his Twitter account: "TNT team owner MVP has put up a reward of P500,000.00 for info leading to d arrest of d proponents behind d Ali Peek shooting. Will release contact details later."

Peek, a member of the Talk'N'Text Tropang Texters team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), was shot and wounded at around 7:00 p.m. Monday at the parking lot of the RFM Gym in Mandaluyong City.

On Monday, Reyes tweeted that Peek was already in stable condition but said, "The Talk N Text family asks d public to respect their privacy at this time. Further details will be released as they become available."

Police investigators on Tuesday released a sketch of the suspect who shot and injured Peek.

However, the Mandaluyong police still have to determine the motive behind the shooting, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported.

According to radio dzBB, the sketch showed that the male suspect was:
5'5" to 5'6" tall,
32 to 36 years old,
dark-complexioned, and
of medium build.

Witnesses said the suspect was wearing a T-shirt and khaki shorts at the time of the shooting.

The dzBB report said Peek was still confined at the Medical City and may undergo surgery on Tuesday.

Prayers, support for Ali on Twitter

Prayers and messages of support from fellow players, fans and netizens poured in for Peek on Twitter.

Many of the prayers came in via the #prayersforAliPeek subject, along with appeals to those who may know something about the crime to step forward.

"The whole Bmeg family is praying for the complete recovery of Ali," said B-Meg governor Rene Pardo.

"Get well soon big guy, we are storming the heavens for your quick recovery," Pardo added.

"It's been hard seeing my bro like this. Ali needs all the support he can get. Pls continue to pray 4 his recovery," said Barako Bull's Don Carlos Allado.

"A bullet being millimeters from the spine is NOTHING but the GRACE and LOVE of GOD!!! He has more planned for the MAN MOUNTAIN," tweeted Meralco's Solomon Mercado.

Mercado also retweeted a message asking anyone who knows something about the crime to come forward and "speak."

"If you know something, anything -- speak. That's somebody's LIFE that was almost taken." read his retweeted message.

Peek's teammate Japeth Aguilar tweeted it was "hard to get any sleep" Monday night.

"Prayers up to my boy @mtnpeek. If anyone can get through this, you can. Love you bruh," said another Talk'N'Text teammate, Harvey Carey.

"@mtnpeek take care bro," added Rico Maierhofer.

On the other hand, Peek's teammate Kelly Williams chided some fans who attempted to make a joke of the incident.

"If you think our concern is anything about winning some games, PLEASE UNFOLLOW ME ASAP," he told one fan who tweeted a joke at Peek's and another PBA player's expense. - with Lian Buan, VVP, GMA News

Source: gmanews.tv