PBA: Talk n' Text dial in win, survive Caguioa explosion

The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters drew double-digit scoring performances from five players to stave off a late Barangay Ginebra Kings rally, 113-111, Sunday at the Smart Aranetsa Coliseum, to claim solo third place in the PBA Governors' Cup.

In contrast to TNT, Ginebra got 32 points each from import Cedric Bozeman and Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference Mark Caguioa, but no other King scored more than seven points.

The Kings had a hot start, going on a 14-4 run to open the first quarter, but Talk 'N Text rallied behind Ranidel De Ocampo, to unload an 18-2 run that handed them the lead, 22-16.
 

After a 27-24 beginning to the second quarter that had TNT still in the lead, a personal 6-0 burst by Bozeman pulled Ginebra to within a point, 39-38, with a Jayjay Helterbrand triple tying the game again for the Kings at 45-all.

In response, Kelly Williams and Paul Harris allowed the Tropang Texters to finish the first half on a high note, hitting back-to-back shots to give their team a seven-point advantage going into the third period, 54-47.
 
A high-scoring second half began with Ginebra' Bozeman leading the surge again in the third, before Rudy Hatfield scored inside to give the Kings a slim one-point lead, 73-72. It was short-lived though, as Larry Fonacier and Japeth Agular converted to give the Texters a five-point advantage at the end of the third, 83-78.
 
Come the fourth, Talk n' Text started to click, as Harris lifted the Texters' advantage all the way up to a 13-point lead, 103-90. A desperate Ginebra quintet turned to Caguioa to try to resuscitate the team, and "The Spark" responded with five straight to bring the lead down to eight, 103-95.
 
Willy Wilson and Cedric Bozeman were the next to heed the call for Ginebra, as the two hit key baskets to bring the Kings even closer, 104-99, but Fonacier would end up draining a three at the other end to extend the lead to six, 107-101.
 
A Caguioa jumper cut the lead to four, 109-105, before a Bozeman hook put the Kings within striking distance, 109-108. With less than a minute left, however, Castro hit a tough shot with a foul to boot.
 
The Talk n' Text combo guard missed the extra free throw and a chance to make it a two-possession game, but the earlier shot was enough to give the Texters a three-point advantage. On the ensuing play, Ginebra went with the hottest hands on the floor, but Caguioa missed the jumper as the Kings were forced to put Castro on the line to stop the clock.
 

In the twilight period of the game, Castro sank both free throws, and Bozeman muffed a three-pointer at the other end to give Talk n' Text the victory, 113-111.
 
"We want our game to get better and we want to get better health wise. Physically, we're making do with what we have," said Talk 'N Text head coach Chot Reyes, who got the victory despite still missing key contributors Jared Dillinger and Harvey Carey.

TNT made do without them though, as import Paul Harris led their side with a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds. Ranidel De Ocampo added 21, Larry Fonacier dropped 19, while Jayson Castro contributed 18 points and five assists.

Reserve big man Japeth Aguilar was the other Talk 'N Text player in double-figures, notching 10 points in just 18 minutes.

Cedric Bozeman produced 32 minutes on 14-of-18 shooting, to go with 10 boards and six assists, while Mark Caguioa's 32 came with a side of four caroms, three assists, and four swipes.

Four other Kings scored exactly seven points each, but the scattered contributions came just shy of forcing overtime or snatching a late win.

Now with a 4-3 record, the Tropang Texters claimed solo third place, as last season's Governors' Cup runners-up seem to be peaking at the right time. The Kings on the other hand fell into a four-team tie with sister squad Petron Blaze, Powerade, and Meralco. — ELR/AMD, GMA News
 

The scores:
 
TALK N' TEXT 113 - Harris 30, De Ocampo 21, Fonacier 19, Castro 18, Aguilar 10, Alapag 5, Reyes 3, Williams 3, Aban 2, Peek 2.
 
GINEBRA 111 - Bozeman 32, Caguioa 32, Ababou 7, Wilson W. 7, Helterbrand 7, Hatfield 7, Cortez 6, Canaleta 4, Villanueva 4, Maierhofer 3, Raymundo 2, Menk 0.
 
Quarter scoring: 27-24, 54-47, 83-78, 113-111