Game today:  (Lucena City)

6:45 p.m. – Alaska vs. Ginebra

Games tomorrow: (Ynares Center, Antipolo City)

4:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs. Air21
6:30 p.m. – Petron vs. B-Meg


TALK ‘N Text has never lost a game against sister-team Meralco. The streak remains intact, barely.

Import Omar Samhan scored six points in overtime to atone for an eyesore of a start, and the Tropang Texters survived Meralco, 102-96, to kick off things in their title defense of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

“Masakit sa mata,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes of Samhan’s performance early on. “I had to keep my temper under control and be patient. He’s not athletic, he’s not flashy, and he’s not pleasing to the eye. But he’s effective.”

Samhan missed his first nine field goals, but recovered quite well to finish with 24 points and 20 rebounds to go with four blocked shots, and five other locals contributed outputs in double figures as Talk ‘N Text stretched its winning run against the Bolts to five games ever since Meralco joined the league last season.

Jimmy Alapag added 14 points and nine assists and Kelly Williams had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Regulation ended at 92-92, with Talk ‘N Text bungling the chance to win the game in regulation after Ranidel de Ocampo’s driving shot hit the back of rim hard and bounced off.

It was Talk ‘N Text’s first competitive game since winning the Philippine Cup three weeks back. The franchise only had four practice sessions with its import and didn’t have the luxury to go through a tune-up match with any of the ball clubs in the league in the off-season.

But the Texters still displayed sharpness for stretches in the game, and that included the poise they showed in extra time where they held the Bolts to only four points and scoreless in the final 2:20.

Jayson Castro hit a booming three-point shot to give Talk ‘N Text the lead for good, 97-96, and Samhan came through with a reverse lay-up, before Alapag had a split. Samhan closed out scoring with two more gift shots.

Jarrid Famous led Meralco with 28 points, but had none in overtime.

Mark Cardona added 25 and Chris Ross tossed in 19 points and a conference-high 13 assists and five steals.

Meantime, Ginebra seeks a share of the lead today when it takes on Alaska in a Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour game in Lucena City.

In a related development, JB Baylon yesterday resigned as Coca-Cola Export’s director for corporate communications and, as a result, is no longer governor of the company’s PBA franchise, Powerade.

The news was confirmed by Cat Avelino, Baylon’s counterpart at Coca-Bottlers Phils., Inc.

Ronald Ascuncion, the newly-appointed alternate governor of the Tigers, is now the acting governor of the ball club.

The PBA Board will tackle the implications of Baylon’s resignation on Monday in a special meeting. Baylon, who also was the league’s vice-chairman, was supposed to become Board chairman for the 2012-13 season.


The scores:

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.

Quarterscores: 19-22, 45-42, 68-68, 92-92 (reg), 102-96.