Talk ‘N Text beat San Miguel in first-ever regular PBA game held in Singapore

Contributed by Stephanie Yeo. Pictures by Francis Espelata and REDintern Vanessa Lim.

Talk ‘N Text edged out fellow Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team San Miguel 85-80 in the first-ever PBA regular season game to be held in Singapore.

8,500 fans were on hand to watch the game, turning the Singapore Indoor Stadium into a raucous house of basketball, the likes of which local basketball fans have never witnessed before.

Despite an initial sluggish start that had both teams neck to neck for most of the first quarter, a last-minute surge by San Miguel’s Anthony Washington gave his team a 38-37 lead at half-time.

Talk ‘N Text were not to be outdone, with several explosive three-pointers by sharpshooter Jimmy Alapag and Ren-Ren Ritualo powering the team to a 55-49 comeback in the third quarter.

Spurred by an extremely vocal crowd comprising of mostly Filipinos, the crowd favourites held on to their lead, despite a commendable effort by San Miguel, to clinch the game 85-80.

As an added treat, fans were also delighted by a special half-time performance by Andrea Del Rosario and Gwen Garci of popular Filipino dance group Viva Hot Babes.

Said an elated Chop Reyes, coach of Talk ‘N Text, “We won today through our grit and determination. In the second quarter, we couldn’t even make a second basket, but we fought for all the loose balls. We kept the league’s highest scoring team to just 80 points, way below the average of 100, and the credit has to go to our teamwork and determination. I promised the team a treat at the famous Boon Tong Kee chicken rice if we won, and they certainly deserve it!”

“When we were first invited to play here, we were very excited as Singapore is a beautiful city with excellent facilities,” he continued. “Even the training facilities in Republic Polytechnic were amazing. The crowd tonight was unbelievable and we are definitely looking forward to coming back here to play and perhaps even have a holiday.”

Part of ticket proceeds from this afternoon’s event, made possible by the Dr. AB Monozca Foundation, the Philippine Long Distance Telepohone Co. (PLDT), Basketball Enterprises Pte Ltd, owners of the Singapore Slingers, and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), will go to missions and orphanages in the Philippines and also be matched by the Monozca Foundation.

The Singapore Slingers next play team Satria Muda Britama Indonesia at the Singapore Indoor Stadium next Sunday, 7 December at 4.00pm.

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