PBA: Dominant second-half effort by Talk ’N Text ousts Barako Bull

(Updated 7:58pm) The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters shoved the Barako Bull Energy out of the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals, 99-84, on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The top-seeded Texters will face either San Miguel Beer or San Mig Coffee in the semis. The Mixers hold a twice-to-beat edge over the Beermen in their quarterfinals tiff.

KG Canaleta led his team with 25 points on a 6-of-11 shooting clip from the floor, including 3-of-4 from downtown. Import Paul Harris followed him up with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals. Jayson Castro had 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Ranidel De Ocampo provided 14 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

"It seems to be a great team effort from my team today. We were very balanced as far as our scoring is concerned," said TNT coach Norman Black. He also credited his team's defense with the win, going from straight-up coverage on Allen Durham in the first half to actively trying to get the ball out of the import's hands.

Black also gave props to Canaleta's huge game tonight. "I always tell KG when he played with Air21 against us he was a Talk 'N Text killer because he always played well against us, that's why we traded for him," said Black. "Tonight he did it for us. Tonight was probably the best game he had for us, so hopefully he has more of that in the future."

When asked if he had a preference between SMB and SMC as his team's next opponents, Black replied, "I don't care, honestly. It's about my team focusing on our goals and what we're trying to accomplish."

Both teams were slow to start the game, but Barako Bull out-hustled the Texters with tenacious offensive rebounding and solid interior defense. Allen Durham played all 12 minutes to anchor the Energy, scoring a put-back to give them a 17-16 advantage at the end of the first quarter.


Barako Bull caught fire from downtown midway through the second, while Talk 'N Text struggled briefly as they tried to get Paul Harris going on offense. The Energy made four triples during a 16-7 stretch, 39-34, before the local Texters picked it up down the stretch. However, Talk 'N Text still trailed at halftime, 43-41.

Durham powered his way through for 11 of the Energy's first 13 points in the second half to open a 56-47 lead. But the game's momentum swung when Jayson Castro plunged repeatedly into the lane for baskets. Castro and Harris combined for 14 points during the ensuing 25-9 romp.

While the Energy played cautiously in the penalty, the Texters were forcing stops and getting out on the break. A two-handed Harris slam in transition capped Talk 'N Text's rally, as they carried a 73-65 lead into the final frame.

Following a feeble defensive effort from the Energy, the Texters pressed forward in the fourth quarter.  A couple of jumpers from Keith Jensen trimmed the lead to six, 75-69, but it was all Talk 'N Text the rest of the way. Harris was free to crush dunks in the lane while the rotating cast of De Ocampo, Castro, and Canaleta picked their spots from beyond the arc. Canaleta drilled back-to-back treys to erect a 95-79 lead with 4:22 left to play, effectively ending the battle.

The Texters shot 36-of-79 (45.6 percent) from the field, including 12-of-30 (40 percent) from beyond the arc. Barako Bull went 32-of-78 (41 percent) overall, but made just 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) from the three-point line.

Allen Durham top-scored for the Energy with 25 points, 17 rebounds and six assists. Keith Jensen added 17 points, while Denok Miranda chipped in 12. Mick Pennisi tallied 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from downtown to go with five rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Talk ’N Text 99 - Canaleta 25, Harris 24, Castro 16, De Ocampo 14, Williams 7, Fonacier 4, Alapag 3, Reyes 2, Baclao 2, Carey 2, Aban 0, Reyes 0, Espiritu 0

Barako Bull 84 - Durham 25, Jensen 17, Miranda 12, Pennisi 11, Fortuna 6, Wilson 5, Miller 4, Marcelo 4, Deutchman 0, Intal 0

Quarter scoring: 16-17, 41-43, 73-65, 99-84