TALK 'N TEXT extended its winning streak to four games after walloping B-Meg, 89-72, in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Ranidel de Ocampo torched the net for 15 points on four three-pointers and added eight rebounds for the Texters, who tied the Llamados in second place with similar 5-3 win-loss cards.
It was the first meeting between the two rival teams since the Llamados beat the Tropang Texters in a dramatic Game Seven overtime thriller to clinch the Commissioner's Cup championship.
“We just wanted it more than they did,” said Talk `N Text coach Chot Reyes. “We’re still fighting for our lives.”
The Llamados were still within 77-66 in the final four minutes when the Tropang Texters went on a telling 10-0 run to seal the win.
Larry Fonacier, who paced the Tropang Texters with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists, punctuated the run with a triple with 1:29 left to play.
“Sinubukan talaga naming i-akyat yung lamang because we’re gonna be at the mercy of the quotient,” Reyes said. “There could be a situation where six teams would tie at 5-4.”
As it stands now, defending champion Petron is in fourth spot at 4-3, while Powerade, Ginebra, and Meralco have identical 4-4 slates.
Jayson Castro scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half, when the Texters built a 41-27 cushion.
Aside from import Paul Harris who played 37 minutes and had 14 points, no one among the Tropang Texters breached the 30-minute playing mark.
“I rotated our players very well,” Reyes said.
Ryan Reyes and Aaron Aban combined for just five points for Talk 'N Text, but both shooting guards did a stellar job defending B-Meg star James Yap.
Yap, averaging 15 points per game, was held to a single digit-score with nine markers behind a horrendous 2-for-18 shooting from the field.
“I think the key to the win was Aaron Aban and Ryan Reyes’ defense on James Yap. They were able to contain him,” Reyes said.
PJ Simon, another B-Meg scoring threat, was held scoreless in 16 minutes.
Marcus Blakely had 19 points, 16 boards, three assists, three steals, and two blocks in a fine all-around game for B-Meg.
The scores:
TALK N TEXT (89) -- Fonacier 16, Castro 15, De Ocampo 15, Harris 14, Williams 11, Alapag 9, Aguilar 4, Reyes 3, Aban 2, Gamalinda 0, Peek 0
B-MEG (72) -- Blakely 19, Urbiztondo 14, Yap 9, Reavis 8, De Ocampo 6, Barroca 4, Intal 4, Villanueva 4, Pingris 4, Simon 0
Quarterscores: 22-10, 41-27, 63-53, 89-72
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