PBA: Harris, De Ocampo lead TNT past Ginebra

The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters drew a solid game from import Paul Harris, while leaning on Ranidel De Ocampo in the pivotal second half to defeat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 96-92, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, clinching the top seed in the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup in the process.

Armed with a 7-2 card, Talk 'N Text has a twice-to-beat advantage against the Barako Bull Energy Cola, which they might need, as one of their two losses came at the hands of that team. Ginebra on the other hand settled for a 5-4 record, and will need two wins to advance to the semis. They won't know who they'll play though until the results of tomorrow's final elimination round game. A Rain or Shine win, and the Barangay draws Alaska. A San Mig Coffee victory on the other hand gets them the San Miguel Beermen.

Paul Harris led TNT with 31 markers, while Ranidel De Ocampo and Jayson Castro tallied 18 each. Larry Fonacier chipped in 12, and KG Canaleta scored eight.

The two teams gamely traded baskets in the first, as Mac Baracael and Greg Slaughter gave Ginebra a 10-6 edge. The Texters then leaned on Castro to lead a 7-0 run, before Japeth Aguilar started to find his rhythm for six points, making it a one-point game, 17-16.

Four from Jay-R Reyes and Jens Knuttel then canceled out a Larry Fonacier pull up, as Ginebra took a 20-19 lead after one quarter.

Dylan Ababou scattered five points at the start of the second to keep Ginebra ahead, as TNT banked on a pair of Fonacier triples to stay close. More treys from Harris and Castro knotted the two teams at 33-all midway through the period, though Ginebra punctuated a 6-2 run with a Mason jumper to go back up, 39-35. A drive from LA Tenorio and five from Slaughter sustained Ginebra's lead heading into the halftime break, as TNT struggled with only one basket in the final two minutes, 46-40.


The Texters opened up the third with their own 10-0 run, capped by free throws from Harris and a Castro pull-up for a 50-46 TNT advantage. Tenorio and Aguilar then teamed up for their own rally, as the tandem powered Ginebra to a 55-50 lead. TNT stayed within striking distance with freethrows from Harris and Alapag, but eight from Mac Baracael opened up a 14-point cushion for Ginebra with less than a minute remaining, 67-53.

Harris had the last say in the quarter, though, as he converted just before the buzzer sounded to get the lead to 12 heading into the fourth, 67-55.

TNT responded with their own rally to start the fourth, as Alapag, Harris and De Ocampo drove in for makes in the shaded lane. With less than nine minutes remaining, Greg Slaughter  suffered a cut on his cheek after getting tagged by Harris, while De Ocampo towed the Texters to within two, 73-71.

With six and a half minutes remaining, KG Canaleta connected from deep to give TNT the lead, before Baracael and Mason tried to stop the bleeding. Castro drove in for a pair to keep the Texters on top, but Mason strung five points together to tie the game at 83-all at the 2:05 mark.

After two free throws from Castro, Harris carried the Texters to a 92-85 edge, scoring seven straight. With 17 ticks left, Aguilar was able to connect on a dunk, but TNT managed the time well while sinking key charities to come away with the victory.

Japeth Aguilar led Barangay Ginebra with 18 points, while Zac Mason and Greg Slaughter had 15 each. Mac Baracael and LA Tenorio scored 14 apiece, respectively. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 96 - Harris 31, De Ocampo 18, Castro 18, Fonacier 12, Canaleta 8, Alapag 5, Williams 2, Baclao 2, Reyes Ryan 0, Reyes Rob 0, Carey 0.

GINEBRA 92 - Aguilar 18, Mason 15, Slaughter 15, Baracael 14, Tanorio 14, Ababou 7, Helterbrand 3, Knuttel 2, Reyes 2, Monfort 2, Ellis 0, Caguioa 0.

Quarter scoring: 19-20, 40-46, 55-67, 96-92