PBA: Talk 'N Text dismantles Ginebra 100-86

The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters strutted their new import's wares in a rout of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 100-86, in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Texters came out with a lot of energy to start the game and led by as much as 17 points in the second quarter. Ginebra rallied back in the third to cut their deficit down to two late in the third period, but the Texters regrouped on defense to take home the victory. The Texters won their second game in a row (7-6) to gain a share of fourth place in the standings with the Petron Blaze Boosters. On the other hand, Ginebra suffered its second straight loss after previously winning six straight games, falling to solo seventh place with a 7-7 record, as they wrapped up their elimination round schedule. Jerome Jordan, the Texters' new import, led all scorers with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Ranidel De Ocampo added 20 points and six rebounds, while Jayson Castro tallied 14 points and six boards. Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag offered 11 points apiece. "It's the third straight game where we had a really good effort on defense and it helped us a big deal," said Talk 'N Text head coach Norman Black. "Jordan did a good job defensively and allowed us to close out on their shooters." Ginebra's Vernon Macklin, Jordan's counterpart on the other team, was held to 12 points and nine rebounds on 3-of-12 shooting from the floor. "Offensively we're moving a lot better now and [with] a lot more energy than in beginning. Hopefully we can get on a run and make this interesting down the stretch," Black added." We don't wanna be in a situation where we have to beat Alaska or Rain or Shine with a twice-to-beat disadvantage." The Texters will close out their elimination round against the Petron Blaze Boosters on Wednesday. TNT controlled the game in the first quarter, as they choked Ginebra on defense and created slashing opportunities on the other end, 10-2. Ginebra appeared to get back on their feet after an LA Tenorio floater made it a 12-8 game, but their defense was still left wanting. Ginebra could neither contain TNT's fast breaks nor solve Jayson Castro's halfcourt penetration, as Castro and Ranidel De Ocampo scored 11 in a 13-2 romp, 25-10. JJ Helterbrand, one of Ginebra's few bright spots, traded triples with Castro with under two minutes to play as the Barangay tried to finish strong. Kerby Raymundo scored their last four, but they remained down by 15 after the first quarter, 32-17. The Texters shot 9-of-19 from the field in the first period (47.4 percent), while Ginebra converted just 8-of-20 (40 percent). The Texters also made 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the line versus Ginebra's 0-of-2 clip. Talk 'N Text seemed to have hit a wall as they missed baskets down low in the second quarter. Meanwhile Ginebra tried to rally behind a Vernon Macklin-Tenorio alley-oop and they slowly found a groove on offense. Raymundo stepped up to score nine of Ginebra's next 11 points, cutting the lead to single digits, 42-35. The Texters finally responded to 10 unanswered points by Ginebra as Castro split his charities with two minutes to play, giving TNT their first points in nearly five and a half minutes. Talk 'N Text gathered their bearings and finished 5-2 until the buzzer, including a hesitation move by Ryan Reyes to beat the clock, to reinstate a 47-37 lead at halftime. Ginebra reversed the script in the second quarter, making 8-of-17 field goals in the period (47.1 percent) against Talk 'N Text's 6-of-20 mark (30 percent). Teams rallied back and forth in the third quarter in contrasting fashion, as Talk 'N Text found Ranidel De Ocampo open in the paint while Ginebra leaned on Chris Ellis' jumpers, 62-51. Ginebra's pesky defense paid dividends as it allowed them to run the open court. They went on a 10-1 run, highlighted by a transition dunk by Vernon Macklin, to cut the lead to one, 63-61, with two and a half minutes remaining. Mental mistakes like a delay of game call and an eight-second backcourt violation however set Ginebra back as the quarter ran out. Meanwhile, Jordan scrapped for points in the paint to buoy a limping Texters offense. Once again though, Reyes gave them deliverance, burying a corner triple as time expired, to give the Texters a 70-63 lead after three quarters. Ginebra posted a 10-0 advantage in turnover points in the quarter, taking advantage of six TNT miscues against two of their own. Talk 'N Text took care of business in the fourth quarter as they began by going to Rabeh Al-Husseini. The offseason trade acquisition drew Raymundo's sixth foul while angling for a shot, dealing a blow to Ginebra's comeback hopes. The Texters gained further separation as De Ocampo drained another triple from the corner, sparking an 11-4 run. Jordan showed off his hops with back-to-back slams to create a 16-point lead for TNT, 93-77, with under five minutes to play. Ginebra couldn't sustain their third quarter success, making only 6-of-21 in the fourth quarter for a 32-of-81 mark overall (39.5 percent). Talk n' Text closed out the game going 11-of-21, good for 36-of-80 overall (45 percent). Talk n' Text also made 8-of-19 three-pointers (42.1 percent) against Ginebra's 3-of-19 (15.8 percent). Ginebra won the rebounding battle, 52-49, including a 16-12 difference in offensive boards. Despite this, TNT finished with a 15-0 advantage in second-chance points. Kerby Raymundo posted 22 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes of action tonight. LA Tenorio added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, but missed all his five attempts from beyond the arc. Mac Baracael tallied 15 points as well. Vernon Macklin and JJ Helterbrand added 12 points each and combined for 17 rebounds and 10 assists. - CLP/AMD, GMA News The scores: TALK 'N TEXT 100 - Jordan 23, De Ocampo 20, Castro 14, Reyes 11, Alapag 11, Al-Hussaini 7, Dillinger 5, Carey 4, Peek 4, Fonacier 1, Raymundo 0, Aban 0. GINEBRA 86 - Raymundo 22, Tenorio 15, Baracael 13, Macklin 12, Helterbrand 12, Ellis 5, Hatfield 4, Maierhofer 3, Taha 0, Jensen 0, Labagala 0, Espiritu 0. Quarter scoring: 32-27, 47-37, 70-63, 100-96