MANILA, Philippines - Talk 'N Text import Omar Samhan started with a whimper but finished with a big bang.
After missing his first nine shots, something that may have alarmed head coach Chot Reyes, Samhan kept his composure and found his rhythm to lead the defending champion Tropang Texters to a 102-96 overtime win over Meralco last night in the Commissioner's Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Samhan scored 24 points, six of which came in the extra period to help TNT start its title-retention campaign on a high note after just four practice sessions.
Samhan also grabbed 20 rebounds with four shot blocks and shot nine-of-23 from the field with two triples and his pair of free throws in OT tied the score at 94 with three minutes left.
Chris Ross nailed a jumper for a 96-94 Meralco lead, but Talk 'N Text quickly regained the advantage after Jayson Castro buried a three-pointer to make it 97-96 with 1:54 to play in extra period.
After the two teams traded missed shots and turnovers, the 23-year-old Samhan scored on a reversed lay-up against Meralco reinforcement Jarrid Famous that extended the Texters' lead to 99-96 with 1:22 left in the extra period.
The Bolts missed their shots from the three-point territory, while TNT's Jimmy Alapag split his free throws and Samhan made two from the charity line for the final score.
"I have to keep my temper under control and just be patient in this ball game," said TNT coach Chot Reyes. "We only had four practice (sessions) with our import and no tune-up game. The fact that our import started 0-9 is a great tribute to the players being patient with him."
"In the end he had 24 points, 20 rebounds. Not a bad production at all.," added Reyes.
In other developments, an official of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., Inc. yesterday confirmed that Coke export's director for corporate communications JB Baylon stepped down yesterday - and as a result - is no longer the company's representative to the PBA Board of Governors.
Coke official Cat Avelino confirmed the report, adding that Ronald Ascuncion, the newly-appointed alternate governor of the Powerade Tigers, is now the acting governor of the team.
Talk 'N Text 102 - Samhan 24, Alapag 14, Castro 13, Williams 12, Dillinger 10, Fonacier 10, De Ocampo 9, Peek 6, Aguilar 4, Carey 0.
Meralco 96 - Famous 28, Cardona 25, Ross 19, Hugnatan 10, Borboran 6, Espinas 5, Aljamal 2, Taulava 1, Timberlake 0, Macapagal 0, Artadi 0.
Quarters: 19-22, 45-42, 68-68, 92-92, 102-96 OT.
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