PBA: Lucky #13 for Talk 'N Text as Texters sweep Elasto Painters for finals berth

(Updated 10:22pm) The hot-shooting Talk N' Text Tropang Texters marched to the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals after sweeping the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 99-91, in game three on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Talk ’N Text is now 13-0 in the conference and awaits the winner of the Air21-San Mig Coffee series. That series has both teams tied at 1-1.

Import Richard Howell anchored the Texters with 26 points and 19 rebounds. Ranidel De Ocampo and Ryan Reyes had 15 points apiece and combined for to go 7-of-11 from the three-point line and seven assists. Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier each had 10 points, and the former added seven rebounds and five assists to his line.

The Texters were unstoppable from beyond the arc, converting 14-of-28 (50 percent) while Rain or Shine went 2-of-23 (8.7 percent) from the same distance and couldn't get their snipers on target.

"Our outside shooting has been the biggest factor this conference," said Coach Norman Black on his team's stroke. “We're the best three-point shooting team in the league, we rely on [it] to win in this conference. It's not something we planned at the beginning of the year but it's something we use as a weapon."

But Rain or Shine didn't go down without a fight, as Black said they scrambled to contain them on pick and rolls and cuts. RoS import Wayne Chism, after enduring an MCL injury in game two, soldiered on for the Elasto Painters and provided a solid inside presence with 31 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

"I'd like to give Chism a lot of credit for coming out and playing tonight despite playing with a knee injury," said Black. "I thought he gave them a big lift and it really helped them stay competitive in the ball game.

"Coming into this game tonight, our attitude was that we really wanted to finish this," said Black. "As our players are saying in the locker room, three more to go."

A pair of treys from Ryan Reyes helped the Texters seize a 14-2 lead, as they made five of their first six field goals. Raymond Almazan and Gabe Norwood eluded defenders with their athleticism as they countered for their squad, and triple-teams sent in Richard Howell's direction stemmed Talk ’N Text's rampage. However, Jayson Castro scored or assisted during a final 9-1 rally, which included a Kelly Williams triple with 0.8 to go, for 30-17 TNT lead.

Rain or Shine continued with their scrappy play inside as Larry Rodriguez and a hobbled Wayne Chism, playing with an injured MCL, carved up the defense. The pair scored the Elasto Painters' first 15 points, and their hustle rubbed off on the rest of the team, and demolished what was once a 16-point lead, 47-41. But Jimmy Alapag was fouled while taking another long bomb, and converted all three free throws, pushing the lead to nine.

Chism found ways to keep it close, while Larry Fonacier canned another layup with 33.8 to go to stretch the TNT advantage. Similar to the end of the first period, the Texters ended the second with a buzzer-beating three, as Fonacier found an open Ranidel De Ocampo for a 10-point lead at the half, 55-45.

Talk ’N Text found a lot of success from beyond the arc in the first two quarters, securing eight treys in 14 attempts. The Elasto Painters struggled in the same department, though, knocking down just one in 10 tries.


In the third quarter, the Elasto Painters' slashers found lanes to the hoop while the Texters converted timely baskets from the outside. Rain or Shine though couldn't wrangle the lead below eight points, and a rash of turnovers as the quarter wound down helped Talk N' Text mount a 12-4 run in the last two minutes. Howell and Larry Fonacier combined for 11 points during the stretch to award the Texters an 80-64 lead to end the period.

Rain or Shine went with a backcourt of Jonathan Uyloan and TY Tang to start the fourth, and they pushed the pace to the tune of a 19-9 run to start the frame, 89-83. But Reyes splashed his fourth and fifth three-pointers to halt the charge, 97-85, with three minutes to play.

The Texters tried to milk the clock with two minutes remaining, but Ryan Arana's pressure defense led to a Castro turnover. A Chism put-back with a little over a minute remaining trimmed the lead to six, but Castro found Kelly Williams for a tough jumper at the top of the key. The Texters then held on for the final score.

"Local players stepped up and contributed," added Black. "We had good balance. Rain or Shine tested our defense."

Talk ’N Text finished with a 35-of-74 (47.3 percent) shooting clip, while Rain or Shine went 34-of-78 (43.6 percent) from the floor. The Elasto Painters led from the charity stripe, making 21-of-26 (80.8 percent) and allowed their opponents to shoot 15-of-17 (88.2 percent).

The Elasto Painters scored 27 points off 20 turnovers, while committing only 10 and conceding 11 off their miscues.

Raymond Almazan led the locals with 13 points and six rebounds. Gabe Norwood notched 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Jeff Chan was held to only 11 points, missing all his seven shots from downtown. Larry Rodriguez had nine while Jonathan Uyloan chipped in five in the final period. Paul Lee was held scoreless in the game.  - AMD, GMA News



The scores:

TALK ’N TEXT 99 - Howell 26, De Ocampo 15, Reyes 15, Castro 10, Fonacier 10, Williams 7, Seigle 6, Canaleta 6, Alapag 3, Carey 1, Aban 0

RAIN OR SHINE 91 - Chism 31, Almazan 13, Norwood 12, Chan 11, Rodriguez 9, Uyloan 5, Tang 5, Nuyles 2, Teng 2, Belga 1, Arana 0, Lee 0

Quarter scoring: 30-17, 55-45, 80-64, 99-91