PBA: Barako Bull hangs on to beat Talk 'N text for 2-1 semis lead

Barako Bull has a strong chance of completing an upset if it keeps the scores low in their semifinals series opposite defending champion Talk 'N Text.   The Energy, after a 123-98 blowout loss in Game Two, held the Tropang Texters to 28-of-72 shooting in completing an 85-81 win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals Saturday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.   Barako wasted its 21-point lead but managed to hand on to post a 2-1 edge over the defending champions in their best-of-five series.   Energy coach Junel Baculi, however, is not counting out the Tropang Texters and is expecting them to comeback strong on Monday.   The Tropang Texters found themselves trailing by 11 after the 24 minutes of play, 42-31, as the Energy shot consistently from the three-point rance. The 31 points is the lowest scored by Talk 'N Text this conference.   Barako continued with its hot three-point shooting in the third with two-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Willie Miller's inside incursion gave the Energy a 21-point spread, 52-33, midway in the quarter.   Talk 'N Text worked its way to trim that lead and were down by 10 entering the final canto.   The Texters did not slow down after that and kept their composure following the ejection of ace playmaker Jimmy Alapag with four minutes and 37 seconds remaining in the game.   Alapag was thrown out after being slapped two technical fouls, the last for elbowing Barako's Ronald Tubid. He was ejected with the Texters only facing a seven-point deficit, 77-70.   A 6-2 exchange had the Texters threatening at 79-77, 2ith 2:27 left.   Mick Pennisi, who replaced Danny Seigle after the latter sprained his ankle in a battle for the loose ball, bailed Barako with a three-point dagger for an 82-77 Energy lead in the 2:02 mark of the contest.   Kelly Williams' two free throws had the Texters threatening for the last time, 82-81, 57.3 seconds left.   Miller's two charities and a split by Pennisi sealed Barako's win after the Talk 'N Text failed to convert at the other end.   Barako shot 11-of-26 (42 percent) from downtown compared to TNT's 6-of-28 clip. — JVP, GMA News Scores: