B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados will not be defending their All-Filipino title in the current PBA Philippine Cup as they lose to Talk N Text Tropang Texters in 6 games of their best-of-seven semifinals series. Talk N Text is back in the finals and is waiting for the winner of the San Miguel vs Ginebra matchup, with San Miguel still leading the series, 3-2.

James Yap led B-Meg with 16 points but was just 5 out of 12 from the field and scoring partner Peter June Simon scored 15 points. Rico Maierhofer and Marc Pingris both had a double-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 points, 13 rebounds respectively. But no other Derby Ace player had a decent game, and the bench of B-Meg was again outplayed by the TNT Bench.

Game scores

Talk N Text 89 – Peek 19, Castro 18, Aban 14, De Ocampo 9, Carey 9, Williams 6, Fonacier 5,
Reyes 4, Dillinger 3, Alapag 2, Alvarez 0.

Derby Ace 72 – Yap J 16, Maierhofer 15, Simon 15, Pingris 10, Yap R 6, Salvador 4, Canaleta
4, Villanueva 2, Gaco 0, Allado 0.

Quarterscores: 19-18, 42-35, 73-53, 89-72

A big fourth quarter by Talk N Text led by Jason Castro moved the Tropang Texters closer to the finals with a 3-2 edge over Derby Ace and now the Llamados must win Game 6 and 7 to defend their All-Filipino crown. James Yap led B-Meg with 24 points but the current MVP could not give the team a crucial game 5 win in their best-of-seven semifinals.

Derby Ace had a great first quarter and led by 16 points, 30-14, but they could not contain TNT in the second half specially Castro and Peek as the Talk N Text bench outscored B-Meg, 68-11. Villanueva, Simon and Canaleta all scored in double figures but the big men, Gaco, Maierhofer, Salvador and Allado combined for only 7 points.

We hope that the Llamados will force Game 7 on friday at the Big Dome. In the other semifinals matchup, San Miguel defeats Ginebra in double overtime as they now lead the series 3-1.

Game Scores

Talk N Text 97 – Castro 22, Peek 16, Fonacier 13, De Ocampo 13, Reyes 10, Carey 9, Alapag 8, Dillinger 2, Aban 2, Alvarez 2, Williams 0.

Derby Ace 83 - Yap J 24, Villanueva 15, Simon 13, Canaleta 12, Pingris 8, Gaco 3, Timberlake 2, Maierhofer 2, Salvador 2, Yap R 2, Allado 0.

Quarters: 20-31, 51-48, 73-69, 97-83

The defense of Talk N Text clamped down on Peter June Simon and James Yap as the Tropang Texters takes Game 3, 92-78 and now lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1. The high scoring duo of Derby Ace scored only 9 points and 8 points respectively as B-Meg lost their momentum in their big win in Game 2.

Marc Pingris led the Llamados with 14 points and 5 rebounds, while only Jonas Villanueva and Don Allado scoring in double figures for Derby Ace. B-Meg committed 24 turnovers led by Roger Yap with 6 and PJ Simon with 4. The whole team was just 2 out of 18 (11%) from the three-point line, with MVP James Yap going 0 out of 6.

Rafi Reavis who was out for a couple of months now played in this game and scored 2 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in 10 minutes of play.

In the other semifinals match up, San Miguel defeats Ginebra and lead the series 2-0.

Game Scores:

Talk N Text 92 – Reyes 16, Fonacier 15, Peek 14, Castro 11, Williams 8, Alapag 7, Aban 6, De Ocampo 6, Dillinger 3, Yee 2, Alvarez 2, Carey 2, Oreta 0, Lao 0.

Derby Ace 78 – Pingris 14, Villanueva 11, Allado 10, Canaleta 9, Yap J 9, Simon 8, Yap R 8, Maierhofer 3, Gaco 2, Salvador 2, Reavis 2, Timberlake 0.

James Yap made a name for himself by making big plays offensively during crucial end game situations and Yap made another big play but not in scoring but in defending and preserving the 1-point lead of the Llamados to tie their best-of-seven series with Talk N Text in the current PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. James Yap playing sick in this game scored only 13 points.

James Yap missed 1 of 2 free throws to give B-Meg a 3-point lead, 88-85 with 37.8 seconds remaining in the game, TNT courtesy of an alley-oop dunk from Kelly Williams gave Derby Ace just a 1-point lead with still 37.4 seconds remaining. Peter June Simon who scored 28 points and grabbed 8 rebounds missed a shot and was rebounded by Talk N Text but the TNT players forgot to call a timeout and a defensive play by James Yap led to a steal with time running out.

The Derby Ace Llamados actually had a 15-point lead, 52-37 in the third quarter before Talk N Text came back close in the last quarter and almost won the game led by Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams who scored 18 and 17 points respectively.

Special mention goes to Rico Maierhofer, who contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds and was 2 out of 2 from three-point range including a crucial three point shot in the 4th quarter to keep Talk N Text at bay.

In the other Semifinals Matchup, San Miguel defeated Ginebra on a last second shot by Alex Cabagnot, 86-84.

Best Player of the Game: Peter June Simon – 28 points and 8 rebounds

Game scores:

Derby Ace 88 – Simon 28, Maierhofer 14, Canaleta 13, Yap J. 13, Pingris 10, Gaco 4, Yap R. 4,
Salvador 2, Timberlake 0, Villanueva 0, Allado 0.

Talk N Text 87 – Alapag 18, Williams 17, Reyes 14, Castro 11, Peek 9, De Ocampo 7, Aban 5, Carey
4, Dillinger 2, Yee 0, Fonacier 0.

Barangay Ginebra ended the 9-game winning streak of San Miguel and is now solo 3rd place in the standings overtaking Derby Ace Llamados with 8 wins and 4 losses. Former Alaska player Willie Miller led Ginebra with 26 points. Derby Ace has a chance to catch up with Ginebra with a win vs Alaska this Friday, May 28, 7:30 pm at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. This will be the second matchup between Derby Ace and the Aces after the 2010 PBA Philippine Cup where Purefoods TJ Giants (now Derby Ace Llamados) swept Alaska 4-0 in the finals, Alaska won their first match up this fiesta conference 83-81, but Derby Ace hopes to win vs Alaska this time.

In the 1st game, Air 21 Express ended their 9-game losing streak by beating Barako Energy Coffee, 99-98, both teams are now tied in last place with only 2 wins and 10 losses.

1st Game: Barako Energy Coffee Masters vs Air 21 Express
Battle of survival: Both teams are at the end of the standings with Barako having only 2 wins against 9 losses and Air 21 with just 1 win and 10 losses. Air 21′s only win was against Barako in their first matchup and after that is on a 9-game losing streak.

2nd Game: San Miguel Beermen vs Barangay Ginebra Kings
San Miguel is on a 9-game win streak and Ginebra hopes to break that streak and leave Derby Ace in fourth place with a win. Ginebra and Derby Ace is now tied at 7 wins and 4 losses.

Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants takes Game 1 of the Best of 7 series Finals vs Alaska Aces, 81-77. James Yap led Purefoods with 24 pts on 7/13 shooting and 7 out of 8 from the foul line but it was the crucial plays of Roger Yap, Rafi Reavis and Best player of the Game Marc Pingris that sealed the win in the 4th quarter. Roger Yap just shot 2 of 10 from the field but made crucial plays down the stretch.

Alaska controlled the boards 52-44 but Marc Pingis (13 pts and 13 rebs and 2 blks) and Rafi Reavis (6 pts and 8 rebs) controlled the inside with their rebounding and defense at the end game. Willie Miller led Alaska with 23 pts.

In the other game, San Miguel Beermen took 3rd place by beating Barangay Ginebra.

Game scores:

Purefoods 81 – Yap J. 24, Raymundo 15, Pingris 13, Canaleta 8, Reavis 6, Allado 6, Yap R. 5, Maierhofer 2, Simon 2, Artadi 0.

Alaska 77 - Miller 23, De Vance 10, Thoss 9, Tenorio 8, Hugnatan 8, Borboran 7, Cablay 4, Ferriols 3, Fonacier 0, Cariaso 0.

Quarters: 15-19, 36-36, 61-58, 81-77.