Texters rule elims, annihilate Express

Talk ‘N Text played at full throttle throughout and overwhelmed Air21, 145-116, Sunday night to earn top seeding in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals starting this Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Six players were already in twin digits after the first three periods, and the Texters breached the 100-point barrier with still more than three minutes to play in the third to cruise to their sixth win in eight outings.

It was the league’s highest scoring game since February 2007, when Barangay Ginebra clobbered sister team San Miguel Beer, 146-111, in Game 4 of the Philippine Cup title series.

“We needed a game like this after a series of bad games,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes said. “We needed to end strong. But the semifinals will be a whole lot different. We need to make sure that we’re at the top of our game.”

Despite the lopsided win, the Texters have flown in a potential replacement for import Morris Baker. Villanova University alumnus Scottie Reynolds will be evaluated this week if he is worthy of replacing Baker.

The ugliest of eight straight defeats ended the campaign of the Express, who were in shambles right from the start despite a roster that had a sprinkling of youth, experience, star power and a fine import in Alpha Bangura.

Not only was Air21’s 0-8 record its worst franchise finish ever, but the loss also sealed the Express’ longest losing streak of 11 in the league, counting a 0-3 setback in the semifinals, also to the Texters, in the Commissioner’s Cup.

As if things couldn’t get any worse for the Express, thieves reportedly broke into their team vehicle in the vicinity of the Araneta Coliseum with utility personel losing items such as sunglasses, wrist watches and a necklace.

The Texters came into the game averaging a league-leading 103.9 points a contest, in a tie with idle Rain or Shine. They eclipsed that mark with still 2:31 left in the third after a Jason Castro jumper made it 104-76.

And with still 8:07 to go, a Mark Yee layup made it 124-93 for the Texters, whose highest scoring game came in Dubai two weeks ago through a 123-113 win over Barangay Ginebra.

Talk ‘N Text topped the elimination round for the fourth straight conference, equalling a record San Miguel Beer pulled off in the late 1980s. That batch of Beermen capped that streak with just the league’s third Grand Slam in 1989.

Yee went on to lead all Talk ‘N Text shooters with 20 points.

In all, seven Texters finished with 10 points or more.

Meanwhile, Alaska, behind another brilliant effort from import Jason Forte, improved its carryover slate with an 83-79 win over Ginebra Saturday night.

Forte scored 24 points, hauled down 24 rebounds and had five assists to lead the Aces to a 5-3 record and at least a tie for second in the six-team semifinals.

The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 145—Yee 20, Reyes 19, Peek 18, Williams 14, Fonacier 14, De Ocampo 14, Baker 10, Castro 9, Alapag 8, Carey 7, Aban 5, Alvarez 4, Lao 2, Oreta 1.
AIR21 116—Bangura 25, Urbiztondo 14, Sharma 14, Avenido 13, Seigle 13, Canaleta 11, Najorda 8, Cabahug 4, Espiritu 4, Hontiveros 3, Arboleda 3, Juntilla 2, Salvador 2.
Quarters: 34-28, 76-53, 114-85, 145-116