MANILA, Philippines – Minus key players: Ranidel de Ocampo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Jason Castro who are all serving the National Team for the upcoming FIBA Asia Olympic Qualifiers, Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters remain solid and a real contender when PBA season opens. Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario became factors in giving Gilas a good game last night.
Coming from a lopsided loss against the taller New Zealand Saints Chinese Taipei looked to dominate the Tropang Texters and post their first ever win in the MVP 4-Nation Cup. But Moala Tautuua and Troy Rosario ganged-up and beat them badly 99-91 on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
As expected, Naturalized Taiwanese Quincy Davis III had an early match-up against Gilas’ back-up Naturalized player Moala Tautuaa at the opening jump.
Tien Lei of Taipei set the scoring tempo of his team as he sank a ring less trey. Newly acquired Texter Guard, Denok Miranda answered with an and-one followed by a fast break layup from Big Mo.
Ryan Reyes rang the bell from downtown but Tien Lei once again launched a long bomb to counter the Texters’ attack. The 32 year old and 6’8” Tien Lei is a feared shooting forward in East Asian region.
In Ranidel de Ocampo’s absence, another 40-year old veteran stepped-up to fill in the vacant number 4 spot. Danny Seigle was doing most of the damage inside the shaded lane while Tsai Wan Cheng had already posted 11 points for Taipei with 3 more minutes remaining in the opening period.
Gilas reservist Troy Rosario came in late to give his fellow-rookie Tautuaa a breather. Rosario was matched against Tien Lei under the basket. But the Taiwanese showed the youngster that he is not too easy to handle. Tien has already fired 3 pointers and 13 all in all at the end of the 1st quarter. TNT was up by a single possession, 28-25.
Ex-Gilas Larry Fonacier entered the floor in the 2nd period for additional fire power.
Tsai Wen Cheng was the hottest player on the hard wood as he continued to drain mid jumpers. Coach Jong Uichico brought his top pick back as his team held a very slim 1-point lead with 6 more minutes remaining in the 1st half.
Tautuaa’s presence inside the court made Taipei’s life miserable especially under the basket. Big Mo is too quick for Quincy Davis and the rest of Taiwan’s front court defenders.
Taipei finally snatched the lead from TNT as Hung Chih Shan buried a long three pointer followed by a break away slam dunk from Lu Cheng Ju. Taipei with a 2-point, 42-40 advantage over the Texters with less than 2 minutes remaining in the quarter clock.
Ateneo alumni Oping Sumalinog and Larry Fonacier both made baskets before the quarter ends but Liu Cheng and Quincy Davis who beat the buzzer gave Taipei 47-43 lead to wrap up the first 20 minutes of the game.
Tien Lei continued to be the high-point man for the Taiwanese as he connected another long distance and increased their lead to 6 with just seconds passed by after the 3rd period started.
On the other side of the floor, Danny Seigle tallied his 17th point of the game with a pump fake floater in front of Quincy Davis but his team was still down 55-48.
Tautuua showcased his ball handling skills after grabbing a defensive board and drove hard from one end to another plus a foul. Big Mo might just be a rookie but he plays smart and well just like a veteran that will surely post problems on all PBA head coaches.
The Texters started to struggle defensively late in the 3rd period as the guards had hard times containing the Taipei guards like Chen Shih Nien and Tsai Wen Cheng. Taipei gained their biggest lead of the game 71-59 under 2 minutes of quarter number 3.
Taipei finished the penultimate quarter with a 73-65 lead.
Troy Rosario surely learned a lot from his short tenure with the National Team. The young and lanky center decently made his baskets under the rim and all were contested by Quincy Davis.
Oping Sumalinog drained a 3-pointer followed by a reverse layup from Troy Rosario to tie the game at 76-all with 7 more minutes remaining in the game clock.
Jai Reyes finally grabbed the lead back to TNT with a tear drop but Taipei leveled the score with a fast break layup right after Reyes’ basket.
Turnovers costed Talk ‘N Text so much. The moment that they had the momentum back on their side, Liu Cheng stole a lame Texter pass and drove it hard to the basket for his 2nd dunk of the game for 80-78 lead midway of the final quarter.
Troy Rosario posterized Quincy Davis with an “in-your-face” double handed dunk plus a foul that gave them a 3-point 85-82 lead. Davis promptly avenged himself by throwing down a hammer right in front of Larry Fonacier.
TNT’s new big men ran the show late in the 4th combined with Fonacier’s knockdown trey for a 4-possesion, 97-87 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the ball game.
Taiwan’s Liu Cheng didn’t want to end the day winless as he made a very rare 4-point play. Liu’s end game heroic acts were not enough to post a win for Taipei as they fell into Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario’s hand.
Taipei will have a last chance to redeem itself and record a W tomorrow but it will be difficult and almost impossible as they face Gilas Pilipinas with Andray Blatche back in the line-up tomorrow at 5pm live and will be aired by Sports 5. - JoeyBoyCapos/TheSummitExpress
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| TNT’s new big men are too much and too strong for Taipei | Photo Credit: gmanetwork.com |
As expected, Naturalized Taiwanese Quincy Davis III had an early match-up against Gilas’ back-up Naturalized player Moala Tautuaa at the opening jump.
Tien Lei of Taipei set the scoring tempo of his team as he sank a ring less trey. Newly acquired Texter Guard, Denok Miranda answered with an and-one followed by a fast break layup from Big Mo.
Ryan Reyes rang the bell from downtown but Tien Lei once again launched a long bomb to counter the Texters’ attack. The 32 year old and 6’8” Tien Lei is a feared shooting forward in East Asian region.
In Ranidel de Ocampo’s absence, another 40-year old veteran stepped-up to fill in the vacant number 4 spot. Danny Seigle was doing most of the damage inside the shaded lane while Tsai Wan Cheng had already posted 11 points for Taipei with 3 more minutes remaining in the opening period.
Gilas reservist Troy Rosario came in late to give his fellow-rookie Tautuaa a breather. Rosario was matched against Tien Lei under the basket. But the Taiwanese showed the youngster that he is not too easy to handle. Tien has already fired 3 pointers and 13 all in all at the end of the 1st quarter. TNT was up by a single possession, 28-25.
Ex-Gilas Larry Fonacier entered the floor in the 2nd period for additional fire power.
Tsai Wen Cheng was the hottest player on the hard wood as he continued to drain mid jumpers. Coach Jong Uichico brought his top pick back as his team held a very slim 1-point lead with 6 more minutes remaining in the 1st half.
Tautuaa’s presence inside the court made Taipei’s life miserable especially under the basket. Big Mo is too quick for Quincy Davis and the rest of Taiwan’s front court defenders.
Taipei finally snatched the lead from TNT as Hung Chih Shan buried a long three pointer followed by a break away slam dunk from Lu Cheng Ju. Taipei with a 2-point, 42-40 advantage over the Texters with less than 2 minutes remaining in the quarter clock.
Ateneo alumni Oping Sumalinog and Larry Fonacier both made baskets before the quarter ends but Liu Cheng and Quincy Davis who beat the buzzer gave Taipei 47-43 lead to wrap up the first 20 minutes of the game.
Tien Lei continued to be the high-point man for the Taiwanese as he connected another long distance and increased their lead to 6 with just seconds passed by after the 3rd period started.
On the other side of the floor, Danny Seigle tallied his 17th point of the game with a pump fake floater in front of Quincy Davis but his team was still down 55-48.
Tautuua showcased his ball handling skills after grabbing a defensive board and drove hard from one end to another plus a foul. Big Mo might just be a rookie but he plays smart and well just like a veteran that will surely post problems on all PBA head coaches.
The Texters started to struggle defensively late in the 3rd period as the guards had hard times containing the Taipei guards like Chen Shih Nien and Tsai Wen Cheng. Taipei gained their biggest lead of the game 71-59 under 2 minutes of quarter number 3.
Taipei finished the penultimate quarter with a 73-65 lead.
Troy Rosario surely learned a lot from his short tenure with the National Team. The young and lanky center decently made his baskets under the rim and all were contested by Quincy Davis.
Oping Sumalinog drained a 3-pointer followed by a reverse layup from Troy Rosario to tie the game at 76-all with 7 more minutes remaining in the game clock.
Jai Reyes finally grabbed the lead back to TNT with a tear drop but Taipei leveled the score with a fast break layup right after Reyes’ basket.
Turnovers costed Talk ‘N Text so much. The moment that they had the momentum back on their side, Liu Cheng stole a lame Texter pass and drove it hard to the basket for his 2nd dunk of the game for 80-78 lead midway of the final quarter.
Troy Rosario posterized Quincy Davis with an “in-your-face” double handed dunk plus a foul that gave them a 3-point 85-82 lead. Davis promptly avenged himself by throwing down a hammer right in front of Larry Fonacier.
TNT’s new big men ran the show late in the 4th combined with Fonacier’s knockdown trey for a 4-possesion, 97-87 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the ball game.
Taiwan’s Liu Cheng didn’t want to end the day winless as he made a very rare 4-point play. Liu’s end game heroic acts were not enough to post a win for Taipei as they fell into Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario’s hand.
Taipei will have a last chance to redeem itself and record a W tomorrow but it will be difficult and almost impossible as they face Gilas Pilipinas with Andray Blatche back in the line-up tomorrow at 5pm live and will be aired by Sports 5. - JoeyBoyCapos/TheSummitExpress
