Kia upsets league powerhouse Talk 'N Text

Manny Pacquiao played for six-and-a-half minutes. PBA Image by Nuki Sabio
ABS-CBNnews.com

 

MANILA - Kia Motors scored another major upset in this season's PBA Commisioner's Cup with a 106-103 win over league powerhouse Talk 'N Text at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
The expansion team, led by import Peter John Ramos who scored 24 points, came back from a 17-point first-half deficit on their way to claiming their first-ever back-to-back wins in franchise history.

Last week, the Carnival shook the league when they took down defending champions Purefoods Star Hotshots.
"Ibig sabihin, maganda 'yung ginagawa ng mga players at sa training ng mga players natin, kaya maganda ang resulta," said KIA playing coach Manny Pacquiao after the game.

The Filipino boxer, who is set to leave the country to begin his training for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, went scoreless after playing for six-and-a-half minutes.
Kia's Hyram Bagatsing, on the other hand, caught fire behind the arc, hitting six of his seven attempts, including one just before the final two minutes to give his team a 98-96 lead.

The former De La Salle University shooting guard finished the game with a career-high 21 points. Veteran guard Leo Avenido added 16 points and a franchise-best 33 assists.
Kia improved to 3-4 to climb to eighth place in the standings, while Talk 'N Text fell a game behind league leaders Meralco (5-1).

The scores:
KIA Motors 106 - Ramos 24, Bagatsing 21, Avenido 16, Pascual 10, Cervantes 10, Buensuceso 10, Revilla 5, Dehesa 5, Cawaling 3, Alvarez 2, Thiele 0, Poligrates 0, Pacquiao 0.
Talk N' Text 103 - Castro 24, Johnson 21, Fonacier 13, Rosser 12, Aban 12, De Ocampo 11, Reyes R.J. 6, Alas 4, Carey 0.