Talk ‘N Text loses no. 1 spot in team standings after bowing to import-less Petron Blaze
Game today:
Araneta Coliseum
7 p.m.- Brgy. Ginebra vs. B-Meg
The Petron Blaze Boosters duplicated what their sister team achieved the other night, overcoming an import-less lineup to stun the mighty Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, 101-96, last night in the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Barangay Ginebra Kings on Friday night scored a resounding 89-87 win over the Air21 Express despite playing without their injured do-it-all import Curtis Stinson.
The Boosters also faced the same predicament against the Texters and also got the same result.
Arwind Santos scored 25 points, Sunday Salvacion tallied 23 markers, while Alex Cabagnot and Jojo Duncil pitched in 14 and 12 as the Boosters formally clinched a semifinal berth with their third straight victory and fifth overall in seven games to move atop the standings.
The Boosters failed to find Jeremy Wise’s replacement in time for the match but hardly felt the effects of playing with an all-local crew.
Wise is done for the tournament after suffering a knee injury in the team’s 87-84 win over the B-Meg Llamados last Wednesday.
The Texters, however, failed to capitalize on the Boosters’ handicap, allowing their opponent to lead by as many as 16 points in the third and saw their endgame comeback bid fall short.
After trailing for a large of the game, the Texters finally zoomed ahead halfway through the fourth, 85-82, before Salvacion, Santos, Cabagnot and Pennisi took over for the Boosters.
Salvacion knotted the score at 85-all on a triple and after a three-point play by Ranidel de Ocamp, the former College of St. Benilde stalwart delivered another trifecta to once again tie the contest at 88 with 3:52 to play.
The Boosters regained the lead on Santos’ two free throws before Pennisi stretched the lead to three with an unmolested layup on Cabagnot’s 13th assist following a perfect pick-and-roll play.
Cabagnot converted a tough layup and Santos’ free throws followed by a booming triple by Pennnisi put the Boosters safely ahead, 99-90 with 19 seconds left.
Larry Fonacier paced the Texters with 21 points. De Ocampo added 19 markers.
What hurt the Texters was Maurice Baker’s paltry 12-point performance as Talk ‘N Text absorbed its second defeat in the last three games to drop to 4-2 (win-loss).
