JIMMY Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo led Talk ‘N Text’s blistering start that set the tone for a comprehensive 103-79 win over Barangay Ginebra at the close of the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup eliminations on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While the game had no bearing for both squads which have both settled their places in the quarterfinals, the Tropang Texters still came out firing on all cylinders led by Alapag and De Ocampo who combined for eight of the team’s 10 three-point shots by halftime.
Alapag, the 2011 league MVP, fired 15 of his 17 points in the first half to help the reigning three-time champions take a 62-39 lead at the half that ballooned to as much as 28 points in the second half.
The win came as big confidence boost for the injury-hit Texters, who snapped out of a three-game losing streak to finish the elims with an 8-6 record ahead of their best-of-three quarterfinal series against San Mig.
“This is a game where we just tried to build some confidence,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black. “We didn’t expect to beat them (Gin Kings) this much. It might have something to do with the fact that this is a no-bearing (game). But it’s a good win for us.”
On the other hand, Ginebra ended up tied with Rain or Shine at 11-3 for the league's best record at the end of the elims, although the Gin Kings emerged as the No. 1 seed by virtue of their 97-84 win over the E-Painters in their lone match-up so far this conference.
The Gin Kings and the E-Painters will only need to win once in the quarterfinal phase after finishing 1-2 in the eliminations.
Danny Seigle led Talk ‘N Text with 20 points and seven boards while De Ocampo finished with 19 points, including three triples, on top of nine rebounds and two assists as the Texters avenged their 95-97 first-round loss to the Gin Kings.
Rookie big man Greg Slaughter led the Gin Kings with 15 points while Mark Caguioa added 11.
Japeth Aguilar, the team’s leading scorer this season, finished with a quiet six points in just 22 minutes of action.
The scores:
TALK N' TEXT 103 - Seigle 20, Seigle 19, Alapag 17, Peek 10, Castro 8, Ferriols 7, Reyes 6, Fonacier 6, Aban 4, Anthony 4, Reyes 2, Poligrates 0.
GINEBRA 79 - Slaughter 15, Caguioa 11, Tenorio 9, Mamaril 8, Ellis 7, Aguilar 6, Helterbrand 6, Ababou 5, Monfort 5, Reyes 4, Baracael 3, Urbiztondo 0, Forrester 0, Faundo 0.
Quarterscores: 32-21, 62-39, 84-62, 103-79
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